South Sound Surfrider, an environmental nonprofit organization, hosted a beach cleanup that removed 561.1 pounds of trash from the Purdy Sand Spit near Gig Harbor.
Every July 5, volunteers dedicate two hours to cleaning the beach, Kathy Hall, the nonprofit’s coordinator, told The News Tribune in an interview on June 11. The day after the Fourth of July is the dirtiest day of the year, she said. This is due to the fireworks debris and trash left behind after the holiday.
86 volunteers collected 225 aluminum cans (more than any other year), Styrofoam from boat docks, plastic and more, Hall said.
“So many families showed up. They were so happy to get out there and help,” she said.
After cleaning the beach, the volunteers left bags of trash in a designated spot for the park district’s crew to remove them the following Monday…