Volunteers cleanup Great Lakes beaches

Volunteers cleanup Great Lakes beaches as a part of the annual Alliance for the Great Lakes September Adopt-a-Beach on Saturday, Sept. 21.

In addition to keeping Great Lakes beaches safe and clean, the cleanups keep thousands of pounds of plastic pollution out of the lakes

According to the Adopt-a-Beach program, in 2018, more than 6,300 volunteers picked up 11,655 pounds of litter at more than 240 cleanup events around the lakes.

Volunteers find a wide range of items including cigarette filters, water bottles, food containers, and even left behind beach toys.