Students clean up Jax Beach

Beaches Go Green hosted a huge community cleanup this past weekend in Jacksonville Beach with more than 640 volunteers who cleaned up more than 84 bags of trash and more than 18,000 cigarette butts. 

Several local schools were represented from St. John’s and Duval counties, including local colleges, high schools, middle schools and elementary schools, too. 

Community sponsors provided funding for environmental education programs as well as prizes and food for volunteers. Community partners included: Mayo clinic, THE PLAYERS Championship, ATP, Native Sun, Jax Beach Brunch Haus, ERC, TIAA BANK, Florida Blue, State Farm, Surfing Evolution & Preservation, SIC Cups, Tobacco-free Jacksonville, News4Jax Positively Jax, Salt Life Food Shack, O-Ku Sushi, The Local Box, Yoga Mix, the Mini Bar Donuts, Donatos Pizza, Wonderbird, Bold Bean Coffee, TacoLu, Peterbrooke Chocolate AB,  Southern Swells Brewery, iRocker stand up paddle boards and Dunsel Recycled Sail Bags. 

Here are a few statistics:

• 643 volunteers times two hours equals 1,286 hours. That multiplied by $29.95 (value/hour) equals $38,515.70 volunteer value
• 84 bags of trash times 20 lbs./each equals 1,680 lbs. Add to that 500 lbs. large items at $1.20 (trash value/pound) equals $2,616 trash abatement contribution.
• This equals a $41,131.70 contribution to the community.
• 18,896 cigarette butts were collected.