Ocean Conservancy Launches #SuperCleanupChallenge to Remove 54 Tons of Ocean Plastic and Trash for Super Bowl LIV; Reveals Top Trash Items Found on Florida Beaches

Ocean Conservancy announced the #SuperCleanupChallenge and revealed its beach cleanup schedule for the 2019-20 NFL season, beginning with its annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) on September 21. Ocean Conservancy has set a goal to remove and divert 54 tons of plastic and trash from Florida’s coast and waterways as part of the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee’s Ocean to Everglades (O2E) environmental initiative. Through O2E, the Host Committee has partnered with Ocean Conservancy, The Everglades Foundation and NFL Green to create a platform for environmental events, education and sustainability efforts throughout South Florida.

891,255 items were found on Florida’s beaches and waterways last year during the International Coastal Cleanup. The top 10 items from 2018 include:

1- Cigarette Butts - 190,759

2 - Bottle Caps (Plastic) - 71,913

3 - Food Wrappers (candy, chips, etc.) - 56,507

4 - Beverage Bottles (Plastic) - 37,394

5 - Straws, Stirrers - 26,047

6 - Beverage Cans - 21,130

7 - Grocery Bags (Plastic) - 19,150

8 - Beverage Bottles (Glass) - 16,775

9 - Lids (Plastic) - 14,399

10 - Other Plastic Bags - 13,723

This year, Ocean Conservancy is calling on Floridians to join Team Ocean and track the amount of trash and plastic picked up by downloading the app CleanSwell and using the tag #SuperCleanupChallenge. The volunteers who pick up the most amount of trash at Ocean Conservancy cleanups during the NFL season will have the opportunity to participate in an event at Ocean Conservancy’s booth at the Super Bowl LIVE village.

“Last year, more than 30,000 Floridians participated in the International Coastal Cleanup across the state,” said Janis Searles Jones, CEO of Ocean Conservancy. “We are excited to partner with the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee and encourage all Floridians to participate in the #SuperCleanupChallenge to leave Florida’s beaches and coasts cleaner than ever.”

“The Miami Super Bowl Host Committee is thrilled to work with Ocean Conservancy to highlight South Florida’s beautiful coast,” said Rodney Barreto, Chairman and President of the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee. “Sustainability is a priority for the Host Committee and we look forward to collaborating with Ocean Conservancy through Super Bowl LIV.”

Volunteers can join Team Ocean at the following cleanups:

• International Coastal Cleanup, Historic Virginia Key Beach Park – September 21, 2019
  - Historic Virginia Key Beach Park will be the flagship cleanup site on the east coast for the 34th annual ICC. To register, click here.
• Miami Dolphins Tri-County Cleanups – October 12, 2019
  - This trio of Miami Dolphins Cleanups is limited to Dolphins Season Ticket Members and Dolphins Staff.
  - Locations include:
• Crandon Park, Miami-Dade
• Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, Broward County
• Spanish River Park, Palm Beach County
• Veteran’s Month Remote Cleanups in the Marquesas (between Key West and the Dry Tortugas) – November 1-4, 2019
  - Ocean Conservancy is partnering with the Lower Keys Guides Association on a fishing weekend that will combine a remote cleanup with a celebration of our veterans, the iconic Florida Keys marine ecosystem while raising awareness about the threats to our natural resources.
• Super Bowl Week Cleanup, site TBD – January 28 or 29, 2020
  - Ocean Conservancy will close the NFL Season with one last Super Cleanup a few days before the Big Game.

For more information about the #SuperCleanupChallenge, please visit oceanconservancy.org/protecting-florida/2020-miami-super-bowl/ or follow @OurOcean for updates.

The full International Coastal Cleanup report is available here.

About Ocean Conservancy

Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit www.oceanconservancy.org , or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

About Miami Super Bowl Host Committee

The Miami Super Bowl Host Committee brings together our community’s top local business leaders, community representatives, tourism officials and football personnel around a common cause – making Super Bowl LIV a historic experience both for visitors and for locals across South Florida. On February 2, 2020, South Florida will host its record-breaking 11th game at the newly renovated Hard Rock Stadium. Additionally, Super Bowl LIV will mark the culmination of the 100th season anniversary of the NFL, and will feature special events and activities throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties as part of the festivities. For more information, visit www.MIASBLIV.com.