CANCELED| Plastic is the New Coal Cleanup | Aspen Ideas Fieldtrip

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED. PLEASE CHECK www.volunteercleanup.org TO PARTICIPATE IN UPCOMING CLEANUPS. 

Join VolunteerCleanup.org as we host a shoreline cleanup as a fieldtrip for attendees of the Aspen Ideas:Climate conference. Members of the general public are welcome to attend as well. 

This will be an eye opening experience, and an opportunity to see the reality of plastic pollution in one of the most beautiful cities on the world, to learn more about the global marine debris problem, it's relationship to climate change, and discover how everyone can be part of the solution. 

As fossil fuel companies seek to recoup falling profits, they are increasing plastics production and canceling out greenhouse gas reductions gained from the recent closures of 65 percent of the country’s coal-fired power plants. "The New Coal: Plastics and Climate Change" by Beyond Plastics at Bennington College analyzes never-before-compiled data of ten stages of plastics production, usage, and disposal and finds that the U.S. plastics industry is releasing at least 232 million tons of greenhouse gases each year, the equivalent of 116 average-sized coal-fired power plants. Much of this plastic waste will end up polluting our oceans for hundreds of years.

** VolunteerCleanup.org will provide all supplies for the cleanup (gloves, buckets, garbage bags, pickers, sunscreen, water, hand sanitizer etc) and a water cooler for filtered cold water refills.

Cleanup will be of the shoreline and mangroves at Pine Tree Park, where so much litter accumulates at this lovely waterfront park. It's only two miles from the Convention Center. 

It's a short uber/lyft ride or, to be climate friendly, you can take the free Miami Beach Trolley, "Mid Beach Loop" that leaves from Washington and 21st. Public transit details here: https://goo.gl/maps/hrobiD3aV8SrLpXf9 or you can adjust the map if you are departing from a location other than the convention enter. 

Important Reminders for Volunteers:

• Please bring water in a reusable bottle so we can reduce plastic waste where possible. We will have a water cooler for cold filtered water refills but will not be providing bottled water. 
• Dress for the weather and wear closed-toed shoes like sneakers or water shoes because the shoreline is rocky and uneven in some areas.   Hat and sunglasses are also recommended for a hot and sunny day. 
• Download the Clean Swell App to participate in the Citizen Science Data Logging. 
• WAIVERS: Volunteers must check-in and sign waivers before you start. Pre-signing the online waiver will help expedite check-in! https://forms.gle/1Xx8yk2Ro59avBySA 

Breakdown of activities for 2-hour cleanup

• Volunteers arrive and check-in (10 min)
• Introduction and safety briefing (10 min)
• Explain tasks, distribute supplies (10 min)
• Shoreline Cleanup, Citizen Science Data logging (1 hour)
• Regroup at check-in point (30 min)
  
  • Marine Debris discussion, Q&A, and key takeaways, potential solutions
  • Count and weight the bags to quantify the impact
  • Take group photo