Asharoken beach cleanup nabs 2 tons of trash

Tractor and auto tires, cigarette butts, and a message in a bottle were among the more than 2 tons of debris that volunteers picked up from beaches around Asharoken over the weekend.

The coastal cleanup, sponsored by the Northeast chapter of the American Littoral Society and the Village of Asharoken, attracted about 450 volunteers to Sand City and Crab Meadow, Asharoken (above) and Hobart beaches and surrounding areas last Saturday.

Asharoken residents Michele Tilleli, Cathy Zimmermann and Deb Masterson organized the event, during which volunteers tossed nearly 5,000 pounds of debris into Big Blue, the village’s garbage truck.

Masterson said her group will now face the task of compiling data on what they found: mostly disposable diapers, cigarette butts and “plastic galore,” although one little boy found a short message and a dollar rolled up in a glass bottle.

The cleanup, in its second year, will continue to be an annual event. Last year’s cleanup yielded about 2,900 pounds of debris.