It’s hard to believe that 30 years ago in September, volunteers joined our first Adopt-a-Beach events on Lake Michigan. Today the program reaches across all 5 lakes and all 8 Great Lakes states. On Saturday, September 18th, thousands of dedicated volunteers took to the beaches with one goal in mind: To keep the Great Lakes healthy, beautiful, and free from plastic pollution.
Each year, roughly 85% of the litter collected at beach cleanups is made up of plastic. Adopt-a-Beach volunteers are on the front lines of keeping plastic out of our lakes. Tackling litter and plastic pollution in the Great Lakes is no small task, but together we are able to make a difference.
Our September Adopt-a-Beach event is part of the International Coastal Cleanup. We are still compiling beach cleanup data, but in the meantime, take a look at a few memorable moments shared by volunteers, highlighting cleanup events around the region.
