Dr. Karen Bell
Keep Liberty Beautiful
There is nothing quite like spending a day on Georgia’s beautiful coast, and this summer you can help protect it for generations to come.
Keep Liberty Beautiful (KLB) invites individuals, families, civic groups, and businesses to participate in the 19th Annual Beach Sweep on Saturday, August 15, at St. Catherine’s Island. Since 2007, Keep Liberty Beautiful has partnered with dedicated boat captains and volunteers to remove litter and marine debris from the public beach on St. Catherine’s Island. While the island is remote and naturally beautiful, ocean currents and irresponsible littering continue to deposit trash along its shoreline, making volunteer cleanup efforts more important than ever.
Every piece of litter we remove from our beaches is one less threat to our wildlife and waterways.
Our coastal environment is one of Liberty County’s greatest treasures. By volunteering just a few hours, each of us can make a lasting difference in protecting our marshes, rivers, beaches, and the wildlife that depends on them.
Liberty County is fortunate to be surrounded by incredible natural resources. Residents and visitors enjoy boating, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife viewing from locations such as Sunbury Boat Ramp, Riceboro Boat Ramp, Half Moon Marina, South Newport River Boat Ramp, and even the peaceful walking trail surrounding the ponds at Bryant Commons. With more than 40 percent of Liberty County consisting of marshes, wetlands, ponds, creeks, and rivers, protecting these waterways is a responsibility we all share.
Marine debris is much more than an eyesore.
Discarded fishing line, ropes, abandoned nets, plastic packaging, sixpack rings, and other litter can entangle turtles, fish, birds, and other wildlife, causing serious injuries, starvation, or death. Many animals also mistake plastic debris for food, which can lead to internal injuries and digestive blockages. Marine debris also damages fragile coastal habitats that support healthy ecosystems and recreational opportunities.
Fortunately, everyone can play a role in preventing marine debris before it reaches our waterways.
Here are a few simple ways to help: Keep streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and storm drains free of litter since rain can carry trash directly into streams, rivers, and coastal waters. Always place trash in proper receptacles or take it home with you when visiting parks, beaches, playgrounds, or public spaces.
Recycle whenever possible to reduce waste that could become litter.
Boaters, anglers, and beach visitors should always bring all trash, fishing line, hooks, and other gear back to shore for proper disposal.
Choose reusable bottles, containers, and bags instead of single-use disposable products whenever possible.
Never dump trash into the water, and report illegal dumping if you witness it.
Marina operators can help by providing clearly marked trash and recycling containers and ensuring they are emptied regularly and secured against wind and wildlife. The best way to reduce marine debris is to prevent it from entering the environment in the first place. Community cleanups like the KLB Annual Beach Sweep are an important part of keeping Liberty County’s waterways healthy, clean, and beautiful.
Keep Liberty Beautiful is currently seeking additional volunteer boat captains to help transport volunteers to St. Catherine’s Island during this year’s cleanup. If you own a boat and would like to support this community effort, your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Later in August, residents are also invited to participate in Keep Liberty Beautiful’s Recycle It!
Fairs on Saturday, August 22, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Collection sites will be available at the Liberty County Community Complex in Midway and Walthourville City Hall.
A free document shred truck will be available exclusively at the Walthourville location. Visitors to the Liberty County Community Complex can participate in activities celebrating the Great Georgia Pollinator Census.
Whether you’re helping clean our beaches, recycling household items, or learning more about protecting pollinators, every action helps build a cleaner, greener Liberty County.
For more information about the 19th Annual Beach Sweep, the Recycle It! Fairs, or other Keep Liberty Beautiful programs, visit www.keeplibertybeautiful. org, call (912) 880-4888, or email klcb@libertycountyga.gov. Join us in making a positive impact, because together, we can keep Liberty County beautiful.