Isle of Palms Clean Up Crew has been collecting litter since 2018. (WCIV)
ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCIV) — This summer, the battle against beach litter is taking center stage.
"Every time you are getting litter off the beach or preventing litter, you're doing something good for the environment," said Susan Hill Smith, the co-founder of Isle of Palms Clean Up Crew.
As more people flock to the coast, they’re leaving behind more than just footprints. A group of dedicated volunteers and newly contracted collectors are making a difference one piece of trash at a time.
"This is home to a lot of wildlife, or at least a place that they are stopping through," Smith said. "So it needs to be healthy for them."
Armed with trash grabbers and a whole lot of determination, multiple times a week, volunteers from the Isle of Palms Clean Up Crew scan the beach for litter.
The cleanups happen regularly, attended by environmental groups, city leaders, and local families who want to see the shoreline stay pristine. It’s part of a growing effort to protect the island’s natural beauty and the wildlife that calls it home.
"During the summer is our busiest time," Smith said.
Litter sweeps happen every Monday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Since 2018, the Isle of Palms Clean Up Crew has been working towards litter-free beaches, picking up thousands of pieces of trash.
"Our volunteers are citizen scientists who are not only collecting litter, but also documenting it and then sharing that data and the larger data set that the Aquarium keeps," Smith said.
This year, the city has taken even bigger steps, contracting private trash collection crews to tackle the influx of waste left behind by summer crowds. Isle of Palms Public Works contracted paid litter collectors for the first time
"We're really excited about the city of Isle of Palms stepping up paid litter efforts and having a paid work team come out every other week," Smith said. "That started in May, and it's going to continue through the summer."
After the Fourth of July, the city's contracted workers collected 22 40-gallon bags of litter.
The much-needed service will continue through Labor Day. Officials say the move was necessary, as growing tourism has led to a noticeable jump in litter along beach accesses, parking lots, and public areas. City officials say they’re already seeing results from the combined efforts of volunteers and contracted crews.
The city's little removal program consists of two sweeps per month from May through Labor Day, with additional sweeps as needed, city officials said.
"This initiative marks a key step in keeping our community clean, creating a healthier, more welcoming environment for all," city officials said in a statement. "It’s important for the city to lead efforts like this—not only to set the standard, but to help protect the quality of our neighborhoods and shared public spaces."
Smith is reminding beach-goers to be mindful about packing in, packing out and limiting the disposable packaging brought to the beach.
Instead of trashing beach toys, crews encourage dropping them in the "no toy left behind bin."
They also suggest bringing your own bottles and using the refill stations to cut back on litter.
"The ultimate goal here is zero litter," Smith said. "Preventing is the best, but otherwise we need everybody to participate and help get it off the beach."
The Isle of Palms Clean Up Crew is always welcoming new volunteers to their Monday and Wednesday cleanups. Those interested can find more information here.