Volunteers cleared 150 pounds of trash earlier this month from the Gloucester Point Beach.

Gloucester Clean Community led the cleanup September 14 in tandem with organizations around the world to recognize International Coastal Cleanup Day and World Cleanup Day.

The rising tide of marine debris threatens human health, wildlife, communities, and economies around the world, according to a release from Gloucester Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The International Coastal Cleanup is the world’s largest volunteer effort on behalf of ocean and waterway health. 

In addition to picking up the trash, volunteers also documented what was collected.  These statistics are used by scientists and quoted by media outlets all over the world.

Gloucester’s 19 volunteers picked up 10 bags of trash totaling 150 lbs. The trash rundown included: 1,115 cigarette butts, 67 food wrappers, 28 bottle caps, two straws, one piece of plastic cutlery, one fishing line, five ropes, five pieces ...