Maine Volunteers Tackle Trash Left Behind at Old Orchard Beach

July 4th may be one of the biggest party days of the year at Old Orchard Beach, but July 5th has earned a much less flattering title: the dirtiest beach day of the year.

According to WGME, after the fireworks, food, and massive holiday crowds, volunteers hit the sand to clean up what was left behind. The Maine chapter of the Surfrider Foundation held its annual July 5th beach cleanup in Old Orchard Beach as part of what the organization calls “America’s biggest cleanup.”

The goal is to remove trash and debris before it gets buried in the sand or washed into the ocean.

Volunteers collected more than 80 pounds of waste from Old Orchard Beach, including leftover fireworks debris, takeout containers, and other trash from the Fourth of July celebration. After collecting the garbage, volunteers sorted it into categories and sent the data to Surfrider’s national system.

Maine chapter chair Paula Layton said the information gathered during cleanups helps the organization push for policy changes at both the state and national levels, the news station reported.

Surfrider officials said volunteers across the country collected more than 50,000 pounds of litter from beaches and coastal waterways on July 5th last year.

Local volunteers said even the smallest pieces of trash add up quickly. By the end of the Old Orchard Beach cleanup, the group had collected 83 pounds of waste.

Volunteers hope the effort not only restores the beach after the holiday weekend, but also reminds visitors to clean up after themselves the next time they head to the shore.