CONGRATS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR A JOB WELL DONE!

Hafa Adai everyone,

First, I want to thank you all for participating in the 2010 International Coastal Cleanup. By volunteering in huge numbers (1,089 people!), you have shown CRM, DEQ and the entire nation that we are serious about combating marine debris and keeping our environment clean and healthy for the next generation.

We received 27 data sheets back, and were blown away by all your hard work to collect information regarding marine debris in Saipan. Data here only reports about 1/2 of the trash that was cleaned up by all your groups (27/53 volunteer groups), so the entire Cleanup had an even larger impact than is shown. This is huge!! Here are totals on a few types of trash that were collected:

493 Paper Bags
1,323 Plastic Bags (do we need to think about following American Samoa's lead and banning plastic bags?!)
1,316 Plastic Bottles (these can be recycled!)
661 Glass Bottles (these can be recycled!)
1,826 Aluminum Cans (these can be recycled!)
239 Clothing, Shoes
1,136 Cups, Plates, Forks, Knives, Spoons
1,390 Food Wrappers/Styrofoam Containers
147 6-Pack Holders (these are NOTORIOUS for trapping and killing wildlife)
730 Straws/Stirrers
16 Fishing Nets (how many of these are floating in CNMI waters, still catching fish?)
4,562 Cigarettes
177 Batteries (batteries leach toxic chemicals directly into the sea)
133 Diapers (marine debris is not only an environmental concern...this is a human health concern!)

Total weight of the trash (for all 53 groups) was 6,280 pounds. In four hours, we kept more than 3 tons of garbage from entering the Pacific Ocean. We removed toxic waste from the shoreline, carried dangerous debris from our beaches, and properly disposed of hundreds of items that could entangle and threaten marine wildlife! For more information on trash removed, please see the attached PDF files. If you have questions, concerns or comments regarding the Cleanup and/or the marine debris issue in Saipan, please do not hesitate to contact me (rachel.zuercher@crm.gov.mp or phone: 664-8316.

Again,thank you all so much. We couldn't do it without you.

Coastal Cleanup Planning Team

/s/Rachel Zuercher
CNMI Coastal Resources Management Office
PO Box 10001, PMB 59
Saipan, MP 96950
Phone: (670) 664-8305
Fax: (670) 664-8315

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A million thanks, indeed, to all you wonderful Beautify CNMI! volunteers who helped make this a greatly successful event!

Cinta M. Kaipat
Volunteer PR Coordinator
Beautify CNMI!