UNDATED, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Tuesday, officials with the Alliance for the Great Lakes announced dates for its annual Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup.
Beach cleanup activities are slated to take place on Saturday, September 18, with multiple opportunities to get involved across the state.
However, volunteers can select different dates around the same time as needed.
September Adopt-a-Beach is the largest annual day of action for the Great Lakes, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of the program.
Each year, thousands of volunteers cleanup beaches on all five Great Lakes while collecting data on beach litter.
Adopt-a-Beach volunteers are on the frontlines of keeping plastic pollution out of the Great Lakes. Officials say more than 85% of the beach litter collected by volunteers each year is made up fully or in part of plastic.
New and returning volunteers are needed for Adopt-a-Beach cleanups on all five Great Lakes. Volunteers come from all walks of life including individuals, families, schools, businesses and community groups.
Interested participants can look at different events online by area, or create their own beach cleanup event.
The cleanups are held as part of the International Coastal Cleanup, a global event.
In Western Michigan, current events scheduled across varying days include South Haven, Grand Haven, Norton Shores and more.
Event times vary by location, and residents can visit www.greatlakesadopt.org to find or create events for specific communities.
For more information about what to expect at a cleanup event or how to become an Adopt-a-Beach Team Leader, visit www.greatlakes/AdoptABeach.
