167 Pounds Removed at Misquamicut Beach Cleanup in Rhode Island

Ocean Recovery Community Alliance (ORCA) hosted a beach cleanup in Misquamicut, Rhode Island, on May 18, bringing together 25 volunteers who removed 167 pounds of debris from the shoreline. The cleanup was organized in partnership with Misquamicut Beach Foundation and Westerly Recreation, with support from Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Team. This volunteer beach cleanup was part of the RI Litter Free Grant program, which allowed ORCA to provide a free Misquamicut Beach Cleanup T-shirt to every participant.

Event Details

The weather could not have been better for a cleanup along Misquamicut’s shoreline. Volunteers spread out across the beach, collecting debris from the sand and dune areas, while beachgoers stopped to ask questions and thank the group for the work.

Thanks to funding through the RI Litter Free Grant, every volunteer received a free cleanup T-shirt before heading out onto the beach. The shirts helped bring visibility to the event while giving volunteers something to remember the day by.

Partner Recognition

ORCA partnered with Misquamicut Beach Foundation and Westerly Recreation to organize the cleanup effort. Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Team also joined the event and helped cover sections of the shoreline throughout the morning.

Community partnerships like these make large-scale beach cleanup events in Rhode Island possible while helping connect more people to hands-on conservation work.

What Was Found

Among the more notable items collected were several balloons and half of a broken paddleboard left behind on the beach. Volunteers also removed smaller plastic debris and litter scattered throughout the shoreline.

Large debris, like broken water recreation equipment, can break down over time and create smaller plastic fragments that are harder to remove once they spread through the sand and water.

Why It Matters

Items like balloons and fragmented plastic debris pose risks to marine wildlife and can easily move into nearby waterways with changing tides and wind. Removing larger debris before it breaks apart helps reduce long-term microplastic pollution along the coast.

Volunteer cleanup efforts also help keep heavily visited beaches like Misquamicut safer and cleaner as the busy summer season approaches.

Get Involved

ORCA hosts volunteer beach cleanup events across Rhode Island and Connecticut throughout the year. Visit our events page to sign up for an upcoming cleanup or donate to support future cleanups.

Ocean Recovery Community Alliance (ORCA) is a nonprofit organization focused on beach cleanups and ocean conservation across Rhode Island and Connecticut.