These ripples become great waves of change, altering forever the face of our planet. The Cleanup is about cooperation and partnerships. Sometimes even the most disparate groups will join hands across diverse backgrounds and work together for a larger common goal. Beach cleanups bring people together-school children, fishers, boaters, government employees, port authority personnel, teachers, factory workers, scuba divers, and politicians, as well as members of environmental, cultural, and civic organizations. Finding the Source.
Trash is hard to track.
In most cases, the person who made the product is not the same one who throws it in the water, or drops it on the beach. And once it's in the water, trash can be sent even further from its source. Carried be prevailing winds and ocean currents, garbage literally travels the globe. Data compiled from beach cleanups are used to identify sources of marine debris. Carried by creeks, rivers and stormwater drains land-based debris travels downstream to settle on the shore of drift out to sea.