Loggerhead Marinelife Center's Tour De Trash Kicks Off September 2nd in Juno Beach

JUNO BEACH, FL – August 25, 2022 – Mark your calendar, grab a bucket, and meet at a beach near you for a cleanup! Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is launching Tour de Trash, its second annual marine debris removal road trip. To celebrate International Coastal Cleanup month, LMC is cruising down South Florida’s East Coast and stopping at several beaches throughout Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.

Participants will be provided all materials needed to remove beach debris, which will be sorted and analyzed according to best practices administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Ocean Conservancy. At each location, participants will learn how LMC repurposes ocean plastic to give trash a second life using solar-powered machines. They will also receive free T-shirts and other exciting giveaways while supplies last.

“Marine debris is a top threat to all sea turtle species,” said Katie O’Hara, conservation manager at LMC. “Over 8.5 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year. Public marine debris removal efforts are essential to fighting the plastic problem by directly removing debris and raising awareness. Tour de Trash is a fun and exciting way to get the public involved.”

Using LMC’s first-ever created Mobile Marine Debris Sorting Station, last year’s inaugural Tour de Trash effort conducted 12 beach and underwater cleanups throughout September 2021, and removed more than 1,100 pounds of debris from Florida’s marine environment.

LMC then produces sorting reports, which allows the Center to identify major types and sources of pollution. LMC uses this information to develop targeted outreach and education programs to reduce pollution.

“Cleanups are especially important during nesting season, because they ensure a safe environment for sea turtles and hatchlings coming to and from the water,” O’Hara said. “At LMC, our hospital staff has observed that nearly 100% of all post-hatchling sea turtles necropsied have ingested plastic.”

Beach cleanup events will be held throughout September in several South Florida locations:

• Friday, September 2, 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Tour de Trash Kickoff Party & Beach Cleanup at the Juno Beach Pier
• Saturday, September 3, Pompano Beach Pier Beach & Underwater Cleanup with Dixie Divers
• Sunday, September 4, 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., the Inlet at Jupiter Beach Park
• Saturday, September 10, 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Lake Worth Beach Cleanup at the Lake Worth Pier
• Saturday, September 10, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Samson Oceanfront Park, Sunny Isles Beach
• Tuesday, September 13, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., Worth Avenue Association Turtle Tuesday Beach Cleanup on Palm Beach Island
• Thursday, September 15, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., Dania Beach Pier
• Friday, September 16, Bang Energy Beach Cleanup at Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami
• Saturday, September 17, City of Deerfield Beach International Coastal Cleanup at Deerfield Beach
• Sunday, September 18, Coral Cove Park in Tequesta
• Saturday, September 24, 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Tour de Basura Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the Ocean Walk Beach Access Point on Singer Island
• Sunday, September 25, 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Carlin Park in Jupiter

About Loggerhead Marinelife Center

Loggerhead Marinelife Center, located in Loggerhead Park, Juno Beach, Florida, is a sea turtle research, rehabilitation, education, and conservation center. The Center also manages the Juno Beach Pier across the street from the park. Established in 1983, Loggerhead Marinelife Center seeks to promote conservation of ocean ecosystems with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. Its facilities include a sea turtle hospital, a research laboratory, and exhibit areas, including live sea turtles and other coastal creatures.