PORT TOWNSEND — Volunteers this Saturday can help clean up a beach and then get a free beer for their trouble.
The Port Townsend Marine Science Center and the Pourhouse will work together in the Beach Cleanup for Beer event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Pourhouse, 2231 Washington St.
Registration with the marine science center will be at a table in the parking lot next to the Pourhouse.
Volunteers will be assigned a local beach, get materials to collect trash and data sheets to record what kind of trash is collected.
Those who bring their trash and other materials back to the Pourhouse will receive one free beer (with identification showing volunteers to be 21 or older) for their efforts during the hours of the event, compliments of Pourhouse owners Ned Herbert and Virginia Marston, said Christina Pivarnik, marketing specialist with the marine science center.
Claudia Padilla, marine science center volunteer coordinator, said “picking up trash leads to a cleaner, healthier marine environment for humans, wildlife and coastal economies.”
Data collected will be included as part of the Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup Day.
In 2012, more than 500,000 volunteers picked up 10 million pounds of trash during the international cleanup.
Some of the items found were 2,117,931 cigarettes and cigarette filters; 1,065,171 plastic beverage bottles; 1,019,902 plastic bags; 958,893 caps and lids; 692,767 cups, plates, forks, knives and spoons; 611,048 straws; 521,730 glass beverage bottles; 4,159 candles; 236 toothbrushes; 117 mattresses; and 40 lottery tickets.
The marine science center is on the beach at Fort Worden State Park.
The Marine Exhibit and the Natural History Exhibit are open from noon to 4 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for youths 6-17. Children ages 5 and younger and all members are admitted free.
For more information, phone 360-385-5582, email info@ptmsc.org or visit www.ptmsc.org.
