PRESS RELEASE: Sept 21 is International Coastal Cleanup Day, 22 Volunteer Cleanups Across CT

September 21: Save the Sound Hosts International Coastal Cleanup Day 

On Saturday, September 21, Save the Sound will host 22 cleanups as part of the 2024 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day across Connecticut. For more than 21 years, Save the Sound has been Connecticut’s official coordinating organization for ICC Day. 

The International Coastal Cleanup Day is an Ocean Conservancy led worldwide effort to inspire residents to help keep their beloved outdoor spaces and waterways trash free. Since its beginning, ICC Day has inspired more than 17 million volunteers to get involved and to collect more than 350 million pounds of trash. 

On September 21, Save the Sound cleanups will be taking place in East Haven, Groton, North Haven, Fairfield, New Britain, and numerous other inland and coastal locations throughout the state, with over 22 cleanups already scheduled. This massive volunteer effort prevents thousands of pounds of litter and waste from polluting the Long Island Sound watershed each year. 

Save the Sound’s most recent cleanup report, based on 2023 data, illustrates the impact and importance of large-scale cleanups through data on trash type and volume, collected by Save the Sound cleanup captains. Each year, our data is shared with the Ocean Conservancy, who then compiles a global report on the yield of each ICC Day. When compared yearly, this data paints a clear picture of trash trends throughout the state of Connecticut, which Save the Sound uses to advocate for policies that stop trash at its source. 

The Connecticut Cleanup is generously supported by Subaru of New England, FactSet Charitable Foundation, HMTX, Barrett Outdoor Communications, Beiersdorf, Neuberger Berman, and PKF O’Connor Davies. We thank them, as well as our other corporate sponsors and the individual donors who keep this program alive year after year.  

Members of the press are requested to register their attendance at these events by emailing Annalisa at apaltauf@savethesound.org. Annalisa can accommodate any needs and coordinate between the press and Cleanup Captains for each event. 

Save the Sound 2024 public International Coastal Cleanups on Sept. 21  

  • East Haven – Farm River: Sat, 9/21, 1pm-4pm (BOAT CLEANUP – BRING YOUR OWN KAYAK) 
  • East Haven – Town Beach: Sat, 9/21, 9am-11am 
  • Groton – Bluff Point State Park: Sat, 9/21, 10am-1pm 
  • Fairfield – Jennings Beach: Sat, 9/21, 9am-11am 
  • Greenwich – Greenwich Point Park: Sat, 9/21, 9am-1pm 
  • Madison – Hammonasset State Park: Sat, 9/21, 10am-12pm 
  • New Britain – Martha Hart Park: Sat, 9/21, 10am-12pm 
  • New Haven – Fort Nathan Hale fishing pier: Sat, 9/21, 10am-12pm 
  • New London – Amistad Pier: Sat, 9/21, 10am-12pm (SCUBA CLEANUP but regular volunteers are welcome) 
  • New London – Green Harbor Beach: Sat, 9/21, 9am-12pm 
  • Niantic – Rocky Neck State Park: Sat, 9/21, 9am-12pm 
  • North Haven – Tidal Marsh Trail: Sat, 9/21, 830am-12pm 
  • Southbury – Shepaug Dam: Sat, 9/21, 10am-12pm 
  • Vernon – Dart Hill Park: Sat, 9/21, 9am-11am 
  • West Haven – Oak Street Beach: Sat, 9/21, 11am-1pm 
  • Waterford – Seaside State Park, Saturday, 9/21, 9am-12pm 
  • Waterford – Harkness Memorial State Park, Saturday, 9/21, 9am-12pm 
  • Waterford – Camp Harkness, Saturday, 9/21, 9am-12pm 

For a list of public cleanups on other days throughout September and October, please visit our Connecticut Cleanup page


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