WASHINGTON, DC – Originally scheduled for September 15 but postponed due to Hurricane Florence, Ocean Conservancy’s flagship International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) event will take place on Kingman Island on Saturday, October 13. In the spirit of Halloween and its own #SuitUptoCleanUp campaign, Ocean Conservancy invites D.C. residents to don their favorite Halloween costumes and help fight the monster that is ocean plastic. More than 500 volunteers turned out to last year’s Cleanup collecting nearly 4,000 pounds of trash, and early numbers indicate the turnout will be even greater this year.

“The D.C. area was spared the brunt of Hurricane Florence’s wrath, but heavy rain usually means lots of trash and litter washing down storm drains right into the Anacostia River, which eventually leads to the Atlantic,” said Ocean Conservancy Trash Free Seas® program associate director Allison Schutes. “While we were disappointed we had to postpone the event, we know that we have the chance to have an even greater impact this October.”

As in years past, the flagship D.C. event will feature live music, lawn games, and a “weird finds” contest (past entries included a Polaroid camera, bowling ball, fire hose, and Incredible Hulk costume glove, to name a few). Volunteers will receive t-shirts and other giveaways; and gloves, bug spray and sunscreen are all provided, along with a light breakfast and lunch.

New this year, Ocean Conservancy has commissioned an eight-foot, hollow metal sculpture of a painted turtle—a local turtle species— from Environmental Sculptures, and will install it to contain and display select trash items at Kingman Island. The sculpture will be a permanent resident of the park, which is managed by The Living Classrooms Foundation, a longtime partner. Also new this year, volunteers will be able to #suitup with Halloween- and ocean-themed props and costumes at our photo booth, while younger attendees can trick-or-treat around the island.

The rescheduled D.C. International Coastal Cleanup runs from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturday, October 13. Visit www.DCcoastalcleanup.org to register.

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Note to editors: Ocean Conservancy experts are available for comment. Infographics depicting data from the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup, released in June, are available here. Photos and b-roll from previous ICC events are also available.

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.