33RD ANNUAL ALABAMA COASTAL CLEANUP Gulf State Park-Pavilion

When:
September 19, 2020 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
2020-09-19T09:00:00-05:00
2020-09-19T12:00:00-05:00
Sep 19 at 8 AM CDT – Sep 27 at 12 PM CDT
Public · Hosted by Gulf State Park-Alabama
Coastal cleanup for 2020 will be a little different due to the pandemic. Our Gulf State Park staff will be located at the Beach Pavilion on Saturday, September 19th from 8:00 am to 12:00pm to hand out supplies. Guidelines are listed below for recommended procedure for the clean up this year. We request that when you come to pick up supplies, only one person in your party come to the supply table. Please wear a mask and exercise proper social distancing. This is a work in progress so please don’t let the virus keep you from safely helping to clean our shorelines. Please call or email the Nature Center with any questions.
Gulf State Park Nature Center 251-948-7275 ext. 5
Kelly.reetz@dcnr.alabama.gov
Date: Sept 19-27
Alabama Coastal Cleanup organizers recommend individual, family, household, and small cleanups of fewer than 10 volunteers, only when and where it is safe. If volunteers choose to participate in this year’s cleanup, we ask them to wear proper personal protective equipment, including gloves and a mask, practice social distancing, and follow mandates provided by local and global health agencies. Out of an abundance of caution, the official cleanup will last nine days (Sept 19-27) to allow volunteers time, location, and distance to participate safely. We strongly urge participants to use the Ocean Conservancy’s “Clean Swell” app to tally debris data. Participants may dispose of waste in household containers but may also dispose of debris at dumpsters at check-in sites. Additionally, the coastal cleanup organizers will ask for dumpsters to remain in place at specific locations in the two coastal counties for the entire week of the cleanup to ensure proper waste disposal.
We will have check-in zones still in place on the kickoff of the cleanup (Sept 19, 8am-12pm) for individuals who need supplies but are asking that only one person pickup supplies for their group. We also ask that all volunteers maintain a 6-foot distance from all other persons at the pickup location. Supplies will be laid out so volunteers can retrieve what is needed while having minimal contact with zone captains. All zone captains will be asked to wear masks at their site while interacting with volunteers. Signs will be posted at each site with safety recommendations.
Recommendations for volunteers:
1. Pick a Location: Identify a safe location to clean where social distancing is easily achievable. Think ahead about where you will properly dispose of trash at the location you choose. Monitor your health and the health of your family members before considering a cleanup of any size.
2. Gather Materials: Gather materials needed. This includes proper Personal Protective Equipment (masks and gloves), hand sanitizer, grabbers, trash bags, closed toed shoes and a reusable water bottle.
3. Download Clean Swell app: If you are able, please help us collect important data on the types and amount of trash you remove. Download the Clean Swell application on your phone or other smart device. Be sure to “Allow” location services while using the app.
4. Clean Up: Safely collect trash using gloves and take pictures to document your efforts. Never pick up any trash items that you are not comfortable with.
5. Carefully Remove Gloves: After you finish collecting items, carefully remove gloves and wash hands and arms with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
6. Record Data: Follow steps on the Clean Swell app to review and submit your data. Data automatically submit to Ocean Conservancy’s database when you see a “Thank You!” screen.
7. Properly Dispose of Waste: Properly dispose of items collected. Do not place trash bags in overflowing bins. This may cause items to fly away and end up back in the water.

Leave a Reply