Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup Set for Sept. 18 Along Gulf Coast Shorelines

The annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, bringing together volunteers from across the region to clear trash and debris from the state’s waterways and shorelines.

The event, organized by Alabama People Against a Littered State (PALS), is one of the state’s largest single-day volunteer efforts. Each year, organizations and individuals fan out across dozens of cleanup sites along the Gulf Coast to pick up litter, fishing line, plastic waste and other debris that threatens marine life and water quality.

Spencer Ryan, executive director of Alabama PALS, said organizers are looking forward to a large, coast-wide turnout. “It’s a great way to get outside and something positive that benefits everyone,” Ryan said in a news release.

The Alabama Coastal Cleanup has been held annually for more than three decades, making it one of the longest-running environmental volunteer events on the Gulf Coast. The cleanup is part of the broader International Coastal Cleanup, a global effort coordinated by the Ocean Conservancy that mobilizes millions of volunteers in more than 100 countries each year.

In past years, Alabama volunteers have collected tens of thousands of pounds of trash from beaches, bayous, rivers and coastal marshes across Mobile and Baldwin counties. Common items recovered include plastic bottles, food wrappers, cigarette butts, fishing gear and Styrofoam containers.

Volunteers are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing, closed-toe shoes and sun protection. Cleanup supplies such as bags and gloves are typically provided at designated sites. Participants are also asked to bring reusable water bottles to reduce waste during the event itself.

The cleanup runs from 8 a.m. to noon at sites across the two-county coastal area. Those interested in volunteering can check with local organizers or visit the PALS website for a list of cleanup locations and registration details.