HATS OFF TO COASTAL CLEANUP 2016 VOLUNTEERS!
DRAMATIC STATISTICS HERE!
September 25, 2016
The day was hot, the town crowded, the waters full of boats, the coasts trod upon by searchers. Everyone, every single volunteer, was looking for materials that did not belong where they were….and find they did. The final statistics manifest a much larger haul of waste than in years past.
Of course, Hurricane Hermine certainly had much to do with the debris in and around the waters. The bad news is that much more waste was out in our waters; the great news is that that waste is no longer there thanks to nearly twice the number of volunteers.
VOLUNTEERS
The number of volunteers has increased almost every year since Cedar Key has taken part in the International Coastal Cleanup efforts. This year’s direct involvement of the University of Florida’s personnel and students, the number nearly doubled.
VOLUNTEER NUMBERS
| YEAR | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2007 | 2006 |
| VOLUNTEERS | 170 | 101 | 93 | 127 | 122 | 81 | 51 | 59.5 | 59 | 48 |
WASTE ITEMS
The number of other types of trash greatly increased this year, as you would imagine. Each item tells a tale. The only item that diminished in number was food wrappers. .
WASTE ITEMS
| ITEMS/YEAR | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Plastic Beverage Bottles | 856 | 398 | 718 |
| Glass Beverage Bottles | 457 | 153 | 210 |
| Beverage Cans | 940 | 234 | 400 |
| Plastic Grocery Bags | 139 | 16 | 60 |
| Other Plastic Bags | 38 | 35 | 66 |
| Foam Cups and Plates | 90 | 43 | 107 |
| Other Plastic Packaging | 162 | 41 | 107 |
| Other Plastic Bottles | 85 | 60 | 34 |
| Food Wrappers | 81 | 91 | 102 |
| Fishing Buoys, etc. | 178 | 25 | 109 |
| Cover Nets | 179 | 47 | 108 |
| Construction Materials | 514 | 105 | 144 |
SPONSORS
The number of sponsors has decreased, perhaps because the businesses not sponsoring were concentrating on Hermine damage.
SPONSOR NUMBERS
| YEAR | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| SPONSORS` | 18 | 20 | 14 |
CIGARETTE BUTTS
The number of cigarette butts collected seriously diminished since 2011…until this year when the number increased somewhat. Note that this year the street location was not taallied. Considering the dramatic increase in the number of other wastes this year, the number of cigarette butts is not so very large. Hopefully people are smoking less; perhaps smokers are using the ashcans placed about town instead of dropping the butts into the environment.
CIGARETTE BUTT NUMBERS
| LOCATION/YEAR | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
| Second Street | 495 | 291 | 382 | 530 | 1500 | |
| Dock Street | 394 | 917 | 745 | 658 | 1325 | |
| Marina | 129 | 264 | 515 | 610 | 569 | |
| TOTAL | 1177 | 1018 | 1492 | 1642 | 1798 | 3394 |
TOTAL ITEMS COLLECTED
“The total number of items collected,” reported Dr. Savanna Barry, “was 6,395 with 6,087 being “standard” items that fit within the categories.” The remaining 308 items include things like bikes, couch cushions, and the like. Two fortunate pelicans, entangled in monofilament, were rescued by the crew on one of the two US Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge boats.
HATS OFF!
Because of this international effort, the world is less cluttered with debris. Cedar Key’s local adoption of this effort, under the strong of leadership of City of Cedar Key Commissioner Sue Colson, UF IFAS Shellfish Extension Agent Leslie Sturmer, and Nature Coast Biological Station Sea Grant Regional Specialized Agent Dr. Savanna Barry, Cedar Key residents, boaters, beachcombers, birders, kayakers, and aesthetes will be able to enjoy a far cleaner, healthier environment than would have been without the 170 volunteers’ labors.
*****
