Flickr user wildxplorer

The 24th annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep will cleanup beaches statewide and is slated for Saturday, September 15 from 9 a.m. until noon.

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and S.C. Department of Natural Resources organize the statewide event, which is held in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Anyone can participate – individuals, families, schools, youth groups, civic and conservation clubs and businesses. All necessary supplies are provided.

Last year over 3,000 volunteers removed 20 tons of debris at 200 locations statewide. In its 23-year history, nearly 1,100 tons of litter have been collected and recycled when possible.

Here is a list of sites in the Beaufort area:

Edisto Island / Edisto Island State Park
Ida Tipton - FRESPACE
(843) 869-4422
Tiptonseachef@aol.com    map link

Beaufort County boat landings, Beaufort River, May River
Veronica Miller
(843) 255-2741
veronicam@bcgov.net    map link

St. Helena Island, Lands End     
Bonnie Collins 
bonniec452@aol.com    map link

Harbor Island
Fran Nolan
(843) 838-4878
frannolan@embarqmail.com    map link

Hunting Island / Hunting Island State Park
Jane Ann Lotton
(843) 379-5821
janeann731@hotmail.com   map link

Fripp Island     
Megan Stegmeir and Alex Iriarte
(843) 838-1516
recreation@frippislandresort.com    map link

Bluffton
May River at Oyster Factory Park
Kim Jones
(843) 706-4593
kjones@townofbluffton.com    map link

Bluffton Beach/Alljoy Landing
Phyllis Neville
(843) 681-3646
pnevs56@aol.com    map link

Hilton Head Island
Mitchelville Beach and Fish Haul Creek
Kathy Weatherhead
(843) 342-3029
nkweatherhead@yahoo.com    map link

Driessen Beach Park
Daniel Gaddy
danielpgaddy@hotmail.com

Burke's Beach
Carlos Chacon
(843) 689-3033 x226
cchacon@coastaldiscovery.org    map link

Coligny Beach and Islander Beach
Phyllis Neville
(843) 681-3646
pnevs56@aol.com    map link

Beach near Sea Pines Resort
Rob Bender
(843) 842-1951
rbender@seapines.com    map link

There are other locations in need of volunteers, for a complete list of coastal site captains and cleanup locations, head here.