On May 16th, 90 volunteers removed 651 pounds of litter and debris from beaches across St. Johns County during the 23rd Annual Turtletown USA Beach Cleanup. The annual cleanup is part of St. Johns County’s Get Hooked, an anti-litter initiative that has become a longstanding community tradition focused on protecting coastal resources and promoting environmental stewardship. For 23 years, residents have gathered each spring to help create cleaner beaches for both wildlife and visitors.
“This year, 90 volunteers came together to remove 651 pounds of trash from our beaches,” said Christopher Benjamin, Recycling Coordinator with the St. Johns County Solid Waste Division. “What started 23 years ago as an effort to involve the public in protecting nesting sea turtles has grown into a community tradition that people look forward to every year,’ said Christopher Benjamin, Recycling Coordinator with the St Johns County Solid Waste Division.
The cleanup is held annually during sea turtle nesting season. St. Johns County’s beaches serve as important nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles, which return to the same beaches where they were born to lay their eggs.
“One of the most remarkable things about sea turtles is that the females return to their natal beach, the same beach where they hatched, to lay their eggs,” Benjamin said. “These turtles travel incredible distances throughout their lives, yet they always find their way back. By keeping our beaches clean, volunteers help protect that habitat for future generations.”
“In the past, sea turtles were viewed as a source of food,” Benjamin said. “Today, they are a source of pride and enjoyment for our community. The entire community has embraced the programs we have in place to help protect them.”
Residents interested in participating in future beach cleanups, roadside litter prevention efforts, and other community events can visit the St. Johns County Solid Waste Division website to learn more about upcoming programs and volunteer opportunities. The Division supports a variety of initiatives throughout the year aimed at reducing litter, increasing recycling, and protecting the County’s natural resources. Events like the Turtletown USA Beach Cleanup directly support the St. Johns County Strategic Plan priorities of enhancing conservation and community well-being by encouraging environmental stewardship and protecting natural resources for future generations.
