Ponce Inlet Beach Cleanup Planned for March 7

The Volusia County government is holding a beach cleanup in Ponce Inlet next month, according to an announcement this week. The cleanup will take place at Winterhaven Park on Saturday, March 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The cleanup is being organized as part of the Keep Volusia County Beautiful initiative. The program was founded in 1998 as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Florida Beautiful in order to mobilize residents to remove waste from the community and its surrounding ecosystems. Event Details "The cleanup will bring together residents, visitors, and civic groups for a hands-on opportunity to care for local beaches while supporting a cleaner, healthier coastal environment," the Volusia County government said in their statement announcing the event. Those attending will be provided with trash bags and gloves. The county recommends volunteers come with outdoor work attire, and bring their own water and sunscreen. RSVPs are not required, but are encouraged. More information can be found and RSVPs can be sent by emailing lwalter@volusia.org. Where: Winterhaven Park (4589 S. Atlantic Ave, Ponce Inlet) When: Saturday, March 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The Benefits of Beach Cleanups According to the Ocean Blue Project, beach cleanups are an effective way to keep pollution and litter from entering marine ecosystems. "Beach cleanup projects protect our aquatic ecosystems from the harmful effects of pollution," the organization says. "They work on a larger scale. They clean up a lot of terrain." Furthermore, the World Wildlife Fund estimates 100,000 marine mammals due annually due to plastic ingestion or entanglement. The issue is also a deadly one for all five of Florida's sea turtle species, multiple of which are highly endangered.