3 million pounds of trash and counting: Operation Splash works to keep waterways clean

Operation Splash in need of volunteers to help keep local bays clean of trash and debris

Carmen Grant

Oct 29, 2024, 12:44 AM

Updated 15 days ago

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Each year, Operation Splash retrieves about 100,000 pounds of trash and debris a year from along the shoreline.
The Long Island group, which started back in 1990, consists of dozens of volunteers.
The group's mission is to improve the quality of Long Island's South Shore bays, waterways, and beaches.
"We have removed everything from hot tubs, grandfather clocks, bag of guns, television sets, hot water heaters, shoes, you name it, we have found it," says Robert Weltner, president of Operation Splash.
The group says Long Islanders can help keep the local waters clean by not littering, using recycle products and reducing consumption.
"If everybody pitches in just a little our waters will be cleaner," says Liz Bellovin, a volunteer for the group.
To date, Operation Splash has retrieved 3 million pounds of trash from our waterways and bays.