Crews collected 561 pounds of garbage from Pierce County beach in 2 hours
South Sound Surfrider, an environmental nonprofit organization, hosted a beach cleanup that removed 561.1 pounds of trash from the Purdy Sand Spit near Gig Harbor.
Every July 5, volunteers dedicate two hours to cleaning the beach, Kathy Hall, the nonprofit’s coordinator, told The News Tribune in an interview on July 11. The day after the Fourth of July is the dirtiest day of the year, she said. This is due to the fireworks debris and trash left behind after the holiday.
86 volunteers collected 225 aluminum cans (more than any other year), Styrofoam from boat docks, plastic and more, Hall said.
“So many families showed up. They were so happy to get out there and help,” she said.
After cleaning the beach, the volunteers left bags of trash in a designated spot for the park district’s crew to remove them the following Monday.
Despite collecting hundreds of pounds of trash, Hall said there was still trash after the cleanup. The beach may appear to be clean from afar, but with a closer look, it’s not, she said.
Future volunteer opportunities
Surfider plans monthly beach cleanups to preserve beaches in the South Sound area, Hall said.
The organization is hosting another free event on Aug. 9. The day will begin with a yoga session at 10 a.m. at Thea’s Park on the Foss Waterway in Tacoma. A land and water cleanup will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. People can sign up for the event on Surfrider’s website or register the day of, Hall said.
This story was originally published July 14, 2025 at 10:26 AM.
