Clean up projects along Washington’s coast will be supported by a new group, the Washington Clean Coast Alliance.
The creation of the alliance was announced this afternoon by the founding members, the Grass Roots Garbage Gang, Lions Club International, Northwest Interpretive Association, the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Olympic National Park, Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association, Surfrider Foundation and the State Parks and Recreation Commission.
The alliance wants to increase public awareness of the threats and causes of marine debris and will continue - and expand upon - the many successful beach cleanup events that happen each year along Washington's coast, said David Lindau, CoastSavers program coordinator.
“We were all aware of each others’ efforts and to some extent helping each other. We realized it was time to join forces, stop trying to reinvent the wheel we wanted to do something new,” Lindau said.
Volunteers like the Long Beach Peninsula’s Grass Roots Garbage Gang, the Four Wheel Drive Association and participants in the annual Olympic Coast Cleanup have established successful annual traditions of cleaning marine debris off Washington’s beaches.
The alliance will be the driving force by the Olympic Coast Cleanup in April and support the other cleanups.
In addition to the one-day cleanups, the alliance hopes to develop year-round programs including adopt-a-beach, classroom activities, debris awareness for businesses and community groups and a DebrisTracker.

Click here to visit the Washington Clean Coast Alliance Web site for more information and to sign up for this year’s cleanup events.