Who Are We?

We are a coalition of dedicated volunteers, buisnesses, and municipalities who continue to work to promote this truely grassroots, community-based event. For the 2008 Coastal Clean Up event, Monroe County's 'Sweet 16,' there are a growing number of registered shoreline sites through out all parts of Monroe County, NY. All registered shoreline sites through out New York State can be viewed on the American Littoral Society's website.

The International Coastal Clean Up event was established in 1986, when a staff person from the Ocean Conservancy decided to take some assertive actions to clean the litter from their local shores in South Padre Island, Texas. In 3 hours, 2,800 Texans picked up 124 tons of trash from 122 miles of coastline. For more on the history of the International Coastal Clean Up event, we encourage you to visit the Ocean Conservancy's website.

The event was brought to Monroe County in 1993 through the ambitious of a few rambunctious youths, then known as the 4-H club the West Irondequoit Green Keepers. As their 4-H club evolved to the Earth Girls, the Coastal Clean Up event did as well. Soon simply through word of mouth and the dedication of these young women, this event spanned beyond municipal borders, held an increasing number of buisness sponsors and partners, and truely became an event embraced by the community. _____________________________________________________________________