History of the Virginia Waterways Cleanup Day

(part of the International Coastal Cleanup)

Between 1995 and 2009, more than 2,000,000 pounds of trash were collected and recorded by more than 49,000 volunteers during the annual "VA Waterways Cleanup Day" (part of the International Coastal Cleanup). Since 1995, the VA Waterways Cleanup Day has been organized by Clean Virginia Waterways. Prior to 1995, it was organized by Bell Atlantic Volunteers and other groups. Virginia is usually in the "top 10" states in terms of volunteer participation in the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). While the Ocean Conservancy organizes and promotes the ICC worldwide, it is up to CVW to organize the ICC within Virginia. CVW is also responsible for raising funds in order to organize the ICC in Virginia. Click here to learn about making a contribution to Clean Virginia Waterways. To learn more about the International Coastal Cleanup worldwide, go to www.coastalcleanup.org

People, Pounds and Miles—the ICC in Virginia

Year Volunteers Miles Pounds Underwater cleanups
1988 130 19.8 12,900 0
1989 308 20.5 21,400 0
1990 1,050 47.0 34,079 0
1991 1,211 56.0 18,027 0
1992 1,336 88.0 65,091 0
1993 1,083 90.0 29,864 0
1994 579 30.0 17,906 0
1995 880 50.0 40,926 0
1996 1,399 94.8 64,022 6500 sq. yards
1997 1,307 109.5 66,803 8000 sq. yards
1998 1,607 81.0 77,522 2 Underwater Cleanups
1999 2,807 225.25 115,511 3 Underwater Cleanups
2000 3,970 420 124,999 3 Underwater Cleanups
2001 3,821 264 182,818 2 Underwater Cleanups
2002 1,301 125 49,438 2 Underwater Cleanups
2003 2,805 228 100,335 1 Underwater Cleanup
2004 3,928 257 176,547 0 Underwater Cleanup
2005 4,580 331 229,011 0 Underwater Cleanup
2006 4,339 327 151,432 2 Underwater Cleanups
2007 5,168 432 283,798 3 Underwater Cleanups
2008 5,710 365 254,046  
2009 5,641 279 169,517  

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Clean Virginia Waterways, Longwood University, 201 High Street, Farmville, VA 23909
434-395-2602 Fax: 434-395-2825 Email: cleanva@longwood.edu