This resolution celebrates the 40th anniversary of the International Coastal Cleanup and encourages participation while emphasizing the need to reduce plastic pollution.
Chris Van Hollen
Senator
MD
This resolution celebrates the 40th anniversary of the International Coastal Cleanup in September 2025, recognizing its massive global impact since 1986. It highlights the millions of pounds of trash volunteers have removed and the resulting scientific data on ocean pollution. The resolution encourages public participation and emphasizes the critical need to reduce plastic pollution at its source.
Senate Resolution Celebrates 40 Years of International Coastal Cleanup, Highlights Plastic Pollution
Alright, listen up. We've got a Senate resolution here that's not about new laws or big spending, but about giving a shout-out to something pretty cool: the International Coastal Cleanup. Specifically, it's designating September 2025 as the 40th anniversary of this massive volunteer effort. Think of it as Congress saying, "Hey, good job, everyone who's been picking up trash from our beaches and waterways!"
Four Decades of Dirty Work
So, what's the big deal? This resolution lays out some impressive stats. The first cleanup kicked off in Texas back in 1986, and since then, it's ballooned into the largest annual volunteer event in the U.S., spreading to over 155 countries. We're talking nearly 19 million volunteers over the years, collectively hauling out over 400 million pounds of trash. Just last year, in 2024, nearly half a million people (486,000, to be exact) collected 7.5 million pounds of junk globally. That's a lot of elbow grease, and it shows what happens when people decide to actually do something about a problem.
The Plastic Problem, Data-Driven
Beyond just making our beaches look nicer, this cleanup has actually created the world's largest database on ocean trash. This isn't just some feel-good activity; the data collected by these volunteers has been used in over 43 scientific papers. And here's the kicker, folks: over 70 percent of the stuff picked up in the U.S. over the past four decades has been single-use plastics. Think plastic bottles, bags, straws—the stuff we use once and then toss. The resolution really drives home that this isn't just about cleaning up; it's about understanding the problem and, more importantly, addressing it at the source by producing less plastic in the first place.
What This Means for You
While a Senate resolution isn't a binding law, it's a formal statement of support and encouragement. It celebrates the International Coastal Cleanup's goals and, crucially, encourages you to get involved. So, if you're someone who enjoys a clean beach, cares about marine life, or just wants to spend a Saturday making a tangible difference, this resolution is essentially a high-five from the Senate, urging you to join the ranks of those cleaning up our coastlines. It's a nod to community action and a reminder that our daily choices about plastic matter a whole lot.