Apr

Cleaning our Marine

Join Charleston Waterkeeper and other local marine organizations in the first annual Clean Marine event!

Help Protect Our Coastal Waterways from Marine Debris! April 8-10, 2011

Coastal recreational boaters, anglers and watermen will be able to dispose of unwanted equipment for free at a special three-day event April 8-10 in the greater Charleston area, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced today.

“We’re encouraging boaters, anglers and watermen to bring their unwanted equipment to any one of 12 locations in the greater Charleston area for disposal,” said Curtis Joyner, coastal projects manager for DHEC’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. “This event is intended to help prevent boating and fishing equipment from becoming derelict or discarded into our coastal waterways and marshes.

“Each year, abandoned boats, old fishing gear, discarded equipment and building materials become marine debris that threatens the health and safety of our coastal environment,” Joyner said. “Large pieces of material along shorelines or in low-lying areas can wash into tidal creeks during high tide or storm events. We need to work together to dispose of unused equipment properly before it damages the marsh or shellfish beds, or endangers people and marine life.”

Joyner said acceptable items for disposal include motors, anchors, dock lines, crab traps, nets, coolers, scrap material and accessories. Large items, including watercraft and trailers, may be dropped off free of charge at Bees Ferry landfill on Friday and Saturday.

“We won’t be accepting oils, solvents, paints or cleaners at this event,” Joyner said.

Staff volunteers will be on hand to coordinate collection on April 8 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., April 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and April 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations: