Florida recycling groups participate in marine debris cleanup

Several recycling industry and environmental groups involved in the Southern Waste Information eXchange’s (SWIX) Southeast Marine Debris Cleanup Initiative participated in a marine debris collection event called Operation Marine Debris on Sept. 13 at Florida’s St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. 

The event was a community-based marine debris removal and prevention initiative. During the event, volunteers collected 660 pounds of materials. The goal of the event was designed to clean up waste material and litter to enhance and protect the marine environment. 

Groups that participated include SWIX, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Washington-based U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida State University’s Center for Biomedical and Toxicological Research and Tallahassee, Florida-based Marpan Recycling.