Final Report

2014 Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup
Final Report
2014 SOLVE Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup
Protecting the health of Oregon’s beaches and wildlife since 1986.
SOLVE is a non-profit organization whose mission is to
bring together individuals and communities to improve
our environment and build a legacy of stewardship.
The annual SOLVE Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup has
been an Oregon tradition for 28 years. In addition to the
Fall Beach and Riverside Cleanup, over 225,000 volunteers
have removed an estimated 2.8 million pounds of trash
from our beaches since 1984.
SOLVE volunteers travel from all over the state to help
out at one of 47 coastal cleanup sites. From Fort Stevens
State Park near Astoria to Harris Beach State Park in
Brookings, thousands of volunteers scour the coastline
each year to protect our oceans, wildlife and coastal
economies.
2014 Accomplishments
More than 4,800 volunteers turned out coast-wide on
March 22nd to remove trash and improve the health of
Oregon’s beaches as part of the annual Spring Oregon
Beach Cleanup.
With SOLVE support, volunteers accomplished
the following improvements to Oregon’s beaches:
• Removed 48,165 pounds of litter and
marine debris, including 14 tires.
• Recycled over 5,000 pounds of debris
to be turned into educational art.
Media Coverage
The Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup received statewide media
attention. The following is a sampling of the many newspapers,
publications, television, radio stations, and web-based media
that ran stories, notices, and calendar items.
PrintRadio
Corvallis Gazette Times
Community Affairs
Coos Bay World
FOX Sports Radio 620
Curry County Reporter
JAM’N 107.5
Eugene Register Guard
K103FM
Newport News Times
KEX 1190AM
Portland TribuneKXL 101FM
Portland Business Journal
KUGN News Talk 590
The ColumbianOldies 106.7
The Daily Astorian
Radio 102.3
The Oregonian
The Brew 105.9
Tillamook Headlight Herald
Z100
TelevsionWeb
FOX 12 KPTV
Coast Explorer
KOIN 6 News
Hillsboro Tribune
The World
Umpqua Post
Letter from the Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup Program Coordinator
Since 1986, the SOLVE Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup
has mobilized thousands of volunteers across Oregon to
come together in an effort to keep our beaches and
waterways clean and healthy. The level of commitment
to this event is inspiring. This year over 100 volunteer Zone
and Beach Captains and 4,801 Oregonians stepped up to
make a difference for our coastlines.
In addition to our amazing volunteers statewide, SOLVE would like to
thank all of our wonderful sponsors, including our amazing haulers who
have been donating their services to the twice-annual beach cleanups for
30 years. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and our dedicated
volunteer leaders are invaluable to this event as they have spent countless
hours helping to coordinate each year. We look forward to celebrating the
30th Anniversary of the SOLVE beach cleanup on September 27, 2014!
Joy Irby
Program Coordinator
Project Map
Teaching the Next Generation
Elizabeth Middleton and her family are like many families who
join the annual beach cleanup. They not only want to help keep the
beaches clean, but also hope to provide their children with
experiences that will instill a lifelong sense of stewardship and
teach the importance of giving back to the community.
Reusable buckets in hand, Elizabeth and her two young daughters
joined the Heceta Beach Cleanup in Florence, picking up hundreds
of pieces of tiny microplastics that are common along the coast.
“We saved at least one life by picking up handfuls of plastic pieces,” said
Elizabeth. Since the cleanup, the family has filled glass jars with the debris they found as a reminder
of their efforts and the importance of volunteerism.
All along the coast, the beach cleanup draws dozens of school groups. In
Gleneden Beach, SOLVE volunteer leader and Oregon State University
student, Sage DeLuna, taught 150 North Salem and McKay High School
students about the issue of marine debris and how their actions impact
the world around them. Together, they helped to remove 860 pounds of
debris and will serve as the next generation of environmental stewards.
A Bond between Nations
SOLVE once again partnered with Japan-related organizations, including Portland Shokookai and the
Japan-America Society of Oregon. This partnership has been indispensable in the years following the
2011 earthquake and tsunami.
“So many Oregonians have a deep bond with our Japanese friends whose lives and livelihoods were so
affected by the tragic disasters of March 11, 2011. By coming together for the beach cleanup with
SOLVE, we now have a framework of committed volunteers from many Japan-related organizations in
our community who support efforts along our Oregon beaches now and in the future,” said Dixie
McKeel, Executive Director of the Japan-America
Society of Oregon.
Due to shared ocean currents, marine debris impacts
coastlines across the North Pacific Ocean, washing
up on both the shores of Japan and the West Coast
of the United States. “The SOLVE Cleanup is a
wonderful opportunity to work together and
promote mutual understanding and friendship
between our two countries,” added McKeel.
Beach Captain Testimonial: Mark Saelens
I started volunteering with SOLVE during the first Beach Cleanup in 1984 along with the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife. Like thousands of SOLVE volunteers, I have committed both
my time and passion to address our state’s environmental needs. Today I serve as Zone Captain 6 for the
Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup, as well as Project Oregon and the Beach and Riverside Cleanup in the fall.
I have seen first-hand the power of a community united through involvement. The real tangible change is
right here in our own communities and we can make a difference in all of our local levels.
I have two favorite experiences from my participation in the beach cleanups. It seems obvious, but what
struck me when I agreed to become a Zone Captain, and still does today, is the little bit of excitement
and willingness that converts a regular beach cleanup volunteer into someone who is willing to step up
and become a Beach Captain. A more recent favorite experience was when I volunteered to participate as
a beach safety instructor for the Japan-US Beach Cleanup
in 2013 during the SOLVE marine debris workshop.
Instructing children and interacting with leaders from
another country with common concerns was wonderful
and something I will never forget.
What people need to know about SOLVE is that if it
occurs to them to try out an event - don’t think about it,
do it, and you will be very happy you did.
- Mark Saelens
SOLVE Zone Captain 6, Lincoln County
Diverting Trash from Landfills
Not all the debris collected by volunteers goes to landfills - several cleanup sites include recycling efforts!
In Manzanita, dedicated employees from CARTM Recycling sort through every bag of debris for
recycling, re-use, and if necessary, waste destined for the landfill. Thanks to their efforts, less than half
of the debris collected enters the waste stream! In Cannon Beach, bags are sorted by the Oregon
Beverage Recycling Cooperative, a member-owned, cooperative corporation that processes millions of
containers each day throughout the year. And for the first time in Seaside, Trash for Peace, a Portlandbased non-profit, collected discarded plastic bottles to create recycling bins and other innovative items.
Once again, the non-profit Washed Ashore took debris from several cleanup sites to turn into educational
art sculptures in their Bandon facility. Due to their efforts, over 5,000 pounds of debris was
kept from landfills. Visitors can now see their sculptures at zoos and aquariums across the United States!
Cleanup Sites and Coordinators
The success of this event depends on well-organized Zone Captains. These are volunteer leaders who, along with
support from SOLVE, recruit and train Beach Captains for sites in their zone and work with local haulers. Beach
Captains run the check in site and make sure volunteers receive supplies and safety information. More than half the
Zone Captains are Oregon Parks and Recreation (OPRD) staff. Members of the Surfrider Foundations also help out
with several of the check in sites. We couldn’t do it without them!
Cleanup Site
Zone 1
Fort Stevens - Columbia River Beach
Fort Stevens - Shipwreck Beach
Sunset Beach Approach
Del Rey Beach Approach Gearhart Beach Approach
Zone 2
Seaside Beach Cannon Beach City Hall
Zone 3
Laneda & Ocean Ave Nehalem Bay State Park
Rockaway Beach
Location
Zone Captain
Beach Captain
Hammond
Hammond
Warrenton
Warrenton
Gearhart
Dane Osis
Dane Osis
Dane Osis
Dane Osis
Dane Osis
OPRD
OPRD
Tongue Point Job Corps
Jamison Bourgeois
State Park Campground Hosts
Seaside
Cannon Beach
Coral Cook
Seaside Lions Club
Jeneé Pearce-Mushen Pacific Alarm Systems
Manzanita
Shelley Parker
Manzanita
Shelley Parker
Rockaway Beach Dixie Sexton
OPRD, David Matthews
OPRD, Cathy Herman, Russ Bowen
Rockaway Beach Lions Club
Zone 4
Tillamook Pioneer Museum
Netarts Bay Boat Ramp
Sand Lake
Tillamook
Netarts
Pacific City
Travis Korbe
John Andersen
Travis Sisco
OPRD, Travis Korbe
John Anderson
US Forest Service, Travis Sisco
Zone 5
Pelican Pub
Wi-Ne-Ma Wayside
Neskowin Trading Company
Pacific City
Neskowin
Neskowin
Scott Duncan
Scott Duncan
Scott Duncan
Pelican Pub, Ken Hanson
Scott Duncan
Scott Duncan
Zone 6
Chinook Winds Casino Resort Road’s End Beach Wayside
“D” River Wayside
S.W. 51st
Gleneden Beach Wayside
Lincoln City
Lincoln City
Lincoln City
Lincoln City
Lincoln City
Billie-Jo Wills
Mark Saelens
Mark Saelens
Mark Saelens
Mark Saelens
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
Ben Burge, Thomas Reindel
Will Wiedenmann
Ruthanne Taylor, Kiwanis Club
Katherine Burge, Linda Wagner
Cleanup Sites and Coordinators cont.
Cleanup Site
Zone 7
Devil’s Punch Bowl - Otter Rock
Beverly Beach State Park
Agate Beach Wayside Nye Beach Turnaround
Yaquina Bay State Park Location
Zone Captain
Beach Captain
Depoe Bay
Newport
Newport
Newport
Newport
Peter Snell
Peter Snell
Peter Snell
Peter Snell
Peter Snell
Surfrider F., Jacque Rodriguez
OPRD, Surfrider F.
Surfrider F., Vince Pappalardo
Surfrider F.
OPRD, Surfrider F., Anne & Shane
Zone 8
South Beach State Park
Lost Creek State Park Alsea Bay Bridge Interpretive Center
Yachats Chamber of Commerce
South Beach
South Beach
Waldport
Yachats
Ryan Parker
Ryan Parker
Ryan Parker
Ryan Parker
Beth Hawkyard, OR Coast Aquarium
OPRD, Amy Elder
Alsea Bay Bridge Interpretive Center
Yachats Chamber of Commerce
Zone 9
Carl Washburne Picnic Area Heceta Beach
North Jetty South Jetty
Siltcoos Outlet
Florence
Florence
Florence
Florence
Florence
John Baldi
John Baldi
John Baldi
John Baldi
John Baldi
Debra Edwards
Cheryl Loftin
Russell Wymore
Surfrider F., Brittany Getz
Barbara Miranda
Zone 10
Oregon Dunes
Umpqua Dunes
Reedsport
Reedsport
Mike Northrop
Mike Northrop
US Forest Service, Rotary Club
US Forest Service
Zone 11
Horsfall Beach
Bastendorff Beach Park
Lighthouse Beach Microplastics
North Bend
Charleston
Charleston
Stephanie Miller
Stephanie Miller
Larry Basch
OPRD, Surfrider F., Susan Scott
OPRD, Surfrider F., Scott Gregory
Larry Basch
Zone 12
“The Barn,” Bandon Beach Bandon
Carl Krigbaum
OPRD, Carl Krigbaum
Zone 13
Battle Rock State Wayside
Ophir State Recreation Site
Port Orford
Port Orford
Greg Ryder
Greg Ryder
OPRD, Rosa Linda Wilson
OPRD, Joanna, Gary Rigden
Zone 14
Port of Gold Beach
Brookings Rest Area Gold Beach
Brookings
Angela Stewart
Angela Stewart
Stand & Darleen Edwards
Janet & Walt Ash
Thanks to our Volunteer Groups, Partners
and In-kind Supporters
2 Hands 7 Continents
Ace Hardware - Coos Bay
Advanced Technology Group
Altair Ski & Sports Club
American Heritage Girls and Trail Life
Bald Peak 4H Club
Bank of America
Beacon Clippers
Bluestone & Hockley Real Estate
Boy Scout Troop 47
Boy Scout Troop 103
Boy Scout Troop 133
Boy Scout Troop 163
Boy Scout Troop 294
Boy Scout Troop 335
Boy Scout Troop 7044
Brownie Troop 41098
Calapooia Brewing
Camp Fire USA - Sherwood Club
Camping World
Canyonville Assembly of God
Cape Arago Audubon Society
Cascade Cruisers
Century 21
Charleston Comm. Enhancement Corp.
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
Clackamas High School
Clark College Environmental Club
Coast Guard Station Coos Bay
Coast Range Forest Watch
Corvallis First Congregational UCC
Corvallis Parks Youth Volunteer Corps
Cub Scout Pack 181
Cub Scout Pack 592
Darren White Photography
Dexter McCarty Middle School
Eddie Bauer
Elemental Technologies
Farrs True Value Hardware - Coos Bay
First Tech Federal CU Mortgage
First United Methodist - Portland
Fred Meyer
Girl Scout Troop 10095
Girl Scout Troop 10443
Girl Scout Troop 21106
Girl Scout Troop 30006
Girl Scout Troop 30522
Girl Scout Troop 40018
Girl Scout Troop 40078
Girl Scout Troop 40259/41259
Girl Scout Troop 45066
Girl Scout Troop 45686
Girl Scout Troop 45759
Hartmann & Forbes
Hearts for Trash
Hewlett-Packard Company
Hillsboro Hops Baseball Club
Horizon
Intel College Grads
Japan-America Society of Portland
John Day Adventures
Josephine JV Department
Kalmiopsis Audubon Society
Kiwanis Club of Lincoln City
Lebanon High School
Marys Peak Group Sierra Club
McKay High School TOP Club
McMinnville Unitarian Youth
Moms & Munchkins
Mo’s Seafood
Mt Hood Cluster of UU Congregations
Multnomah County 4-H
Muse Model Management
Muslim Educational Trust
N.L.T.
NLMC Youth
North Salem High School TOP Club
NW Quadriders
Obsidians Eugene
Oregon Beverage Recycling Coop.
Oregon Coast Aquarium
Oregon Parks & Recreation Dept.
Oregon for Matthew Keating
Oregon Society of CPAs
OSU Botany CLub
Pacific Action Club
Pacific Alarm Systems
Pacific University Save the Seas
Paisley Distance Learning Program
Pelican Pub
Phoenix Middle School
Pirates Against Trash
Planet Fitness
Portland General Electric
Queen of Peace Catholic Church
Recology Western Oregon
Reed College Peer Mentor Program
Rockaway Beach Lions Club
Rogue Credit Union
Rogue River Teen Outreach Program
Rolling Hills Single Adult Ministry
Rotary Club of Reedsport
Salem Cleanup Crew
SE Neighborhood Community Center
Sea Scout Ship Tsunami 678
Seaside Lions Club
Simmer Down Catering
Snyder Roofing of Oregon LLC
South Carolina Alumni Club Portland
Shokookai Portland
Sierra Club
Snyder Roofing
St. John Youth
Starbucks Coffee Company
Stayton High School Science Club
Sterling Bank
Students Engaged in Eco-Defense
Surfrider Coos Bay Chapter
Surfrider Newport Chapter
Surfrider Siuslaw Chapter
Target
The Church of Jesus Christ
The Lanai at the Cove
The Standard
Tiger Cubs Pack 347
Toastfox.com
Toyota - Coos Bay
Trash Dogs
Trash for Peace
Tributes
Tualatin High School Ecology Club
U.S. Bank
United Rentals
University of Portland - M.E.Ch.A.
University of Portland Ecology Club
U.S. Forest Service
Vancouver First Congregational UCC
Washed Ashore
Westside Singles
Walmart - Coos Bay
Willamette University -- WAVE
Thank You Sponsors!
LEGACY SPONSORS
MAJOR SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSOR
COORDINATING SPONSORS
SITE SPONSOR
City of Yachats
Special Thanks to our Coastal Haulers!
Bandon Transfer and Recycling
CARTM
Central Coast Disposal
City Sanitary Service
County Transfer and Recycling
Curry Transfer and Recycling
Dahl Disposal
Douglas County
Lane County
Les’ Sanitary
Lincoln County
Nestucca Valley Sanitary Service
North Lincoln Sanitary Service
Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept.
R Sanitary
Recology Western Oregon
Southern Oregon Sanitation
The Washed Ashore Project
Thompson’s Sanitary Service
Tillamook County Solid Waste
Keeping Oregon Clean and Green!
Matthew helping to keep Seaside clean
Girl Scout Troop 41098 at Gearhart Beach
Tangled plastic at Seaside Beach
Will, age 11, at Road’s End: “I saved one animal’s
life with every handful of tiny plastics I picked up!”
Love It. Own It. SOLVE It.
Family at Nehalem Bay State Park
Young volunteer at Sunset Beach
Cascade Cruisers helping haul debris in Fort Stevens
SOLVE staff member Nicole Poletto and Morgan Parks helping out in Manzanita
2000 1st Ave., Suite 400| Portland, OR 97201
503-844-9571 | 1-800-333-7658
www.solveoregon.org
/SOLVEOregon
@SOLVEinOregon
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