An environmental charity has appealed for volunteers to hit the beach next month as part of an island-wide clean up.

The Keep Bermuda Beautiful Coastal Clean Up, sponsored by financial services firm EY, will tackle trash at more than 40 sites around the island.

A KBB spokeswoman said that about 700 people usually take part in the annual clean up, organised as part of the International Coastal Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean Up held in more than 100 locations around the world.

The spokeswoman said: “In 2020, the top ten items were cigarette butts, plastic beverage bottles, plastic food wrappers, other trash, plastic bottle caps, plastic grocery bags, straws, stirrers, plastic take out containers, beverage cans and bottles.

“Cleaning up is more important today than ever as the ocean plastics crisis worsens and ever-increasing amounts of pollution arrive on our shores.”

The clean up will be held between November 5 and 7.

The event has been an annual tradition for the charity since 1975.

The event is also used to collect statistics for International Coastal Conservancy as volunteers track and record the types of waste collected.

The KBB spokeswoman said divers, swimmers, snorkellers, walkers, beachcombers, groups and individuals should sign up to help at one of the spots around the island.

KBB will provide cleaning supplies, and school pupils can earn credit for community service hours through the event.

The spokeswoman thanked EY for its continued support of the event.

She said: “While the event is volunteer-driven, there are costs associated with removing this much waste.

“EY’s local team will also join us and together as a community we will clean up our coastlines in a powerful effort to better Bermuda, protect our wildlife, our environment and our people.”

For more information or to volunteer, call 799-5142, e-mail office@kbb.bm or visit www.kbb.bm.