Date: April 17, 2010
For Immediate Release
Contact: David Lindau (206) 220-4279

Washington's Pacific Coast is now tons cleaner - about 24 tons cleaner, to be exact. Over 1000 volunteers from around Washington celebrated Earth Day this year by turning out today for the annual Washington Coast Cleanup. Working at beaches along Washington's entire Pacific coast, dedicated volunteers braved blowing rain and sand and hauled away an estimated 24 tons of plastic water bottles, household trash, lost fishing gear, and other types of washed up debris that kill or poison marine wildlife.

"This year's event was incredibly successful," said David Lindau, Program Coordinator for Washington CoastSavers. "That so many people came out here in spite of such harsh conditions and still managed to haul off over 24 tons of debris is absolutely astounding. Each and every one of our volunteers is a hero. Countless marine organisms have been saved and our beaches are cleaner, healthier places for everyone."

"The level of dedication these volunteers have showed today indicates that ocean health is becoming an increasingly important issue to more and more people," said Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent Carol Bernthal. "Everyone who volunteered today has made an important and visible difference in preserving our coastal ecosystem."

Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin expressed gratitude for the CoastSavers partnership, "We are very thankful for the efforts of each and every volunteer -- this cleanup simply couldn't happen without them, and for the Washington CoastSavers' work to organize and energize this huge and extremely valuable event."

"The turnout today is really inspirational, especially in light of the nasty weather" said Shelly Pollock, lead organizer for the Grass Roots Garbage Gang. "Here on the Long Beach Peninsula, we practically live on the beach. Cleaning up marine debris and other beach trash is not just about saving the environment. It's about keeping our community livable."

The Washington Coast Cleanup is sponsored by the Washington Clean Coast Alliance and is the only coast-wide cleanup on Washington's Pacific Coast. Washington Clean Coast Alliance member organizations include Clallam Bay-Sekiu Lions Club, Discover Your Northwest, Grass Roots Garbage Gang, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Olympic National Park, Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association, Surfrider Foundation, and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

To learn more about the Washington Coast Cleanup and the Washington CoastSavers program, visit www.coastsavers.org.

-- www.CoastSavers.org --