Past Cleanups

Everything you need to know about what we've done so far.

1. Statistics

A sampling of the vital statistics of the last few years.

2. Canada's Dirty Dozen

What we found most when we picked up shoreline litter.

3. The Most Unusual Finds

What are the most unexpected items we found.

4. Chart of Shoreline Litter Activity Causes

Over the years, the biggest and smallest shoreline litterers. 

1. Past Cleanups

*Weight of shoreline litter removed from shorelines.

2. Canada's Dirty Dozen List

No surprise that Cigarette butts dominate the list AGAIN! Building materials are, however, climbing the list at a surprising rate (last year's rank, 12), and Glass Beverage Bottles now beat plastic bottles!

3. The Most Unusual Finds

The #1 unusual item found during shoreline cleanups across the country in 2005 was shopping carts, second place goes to car parts, followed by underwear in 3rd place. 

Last year, volunteers discovered mostly bikes, appliances, tires, toys, earplugs, coconuts and stoves/BBQs.

Following is a list of just some of the most unusual items found over the years:

•   Hair curler
•   Parts of a Breast Pump
•   18k Gold Ring
•   Celine Dion albums/ Janet Jacket cassette tape
•   Living room set
•   Potato gun
•   Wedding Veil and Jacket
•   Late 1800's wagon cart
•   Gun barrel
•   Toilet seat nailed to lawn chair
•   Bouquet of plastic flowers

Wildlife Discoveries

Participants across the nation discovered first hand the dangers shoreline litter pose on wildlife:

          In Nova Scotia, a group found a dead cormorant entangled

          in lobster rope.

In Ontario, several groups found animals entangled in fishing gear. (three fish entangled in old fishing net, a hawk in fishing line, a seagull with fishing line around its feet, and a fish entangled in fishing line)

In British Columbia, cleanup crews found a trout with a fishing hook and line still attached and a fish stuck in a can.

Numerous other animals and animal parts were found, however no evidence fo entanglement remained. In one case, a turtle shell was found entangled in garbage, but there was no way to determine if the entanglement took place before or after the death.

Findings such as these remind us of how important this work is in protecting aquatic life. For more information on how you can make a difference, click here.

4. Chart of Shoreline Litter Activity Causes