Hundreds of volunteers filled more than ten dump trucks with trash on Saturday as part of Keep Bermuda Beautiful's annual Coastal Clean-up.

Both the KBB clean-up and a coastal clean-up run by Dolphin Quest took place over the weekend as environmentalists launched an anti-litter campaign.

The Island-wide effort saw more than 400 people, including workers from the Parks Department and Works and Engineering, clear beaches and parkland close to the shore.

Government told The Royal Gazette that it is costing up to $1 million yearly to clean the Island's public areas with litterbugs dropping everything from junk food wrappers, boat batteries, household items and cigarette butts.

KBB executive director Lennox Boodram said approximately six tons of trash were picked up, the majority coming from the South Shore and central areas. Environmental groups and businesses participated in the effort which also saw more than two dozen endemic trees replanted in public parkland in Spanish Point.

“We want to make Bermuda a litter-free zone,” said Mr. Boodram.

He said beer bottles were among the most discarded items.

“We need to get legislation in place that discourages people from littering, no one should have to pick up after anyone,” said Mr. Boodram. “We could be spending more time and energy on beautification of the Island as opposed to picking up litter.”

He said a bottle bill would also reduce the numbers of bottles thrown into the environment with consumers getting some money back if they returned empties to the manufacturer.

Dolphin Quest senior education specialist Robyn Bungay co-ordinated another coastal clean-up at Shelly Bay and Whale Bone Bay on Friday and at Mangrove Bay on Saturday. Volunteers also participated in an underwater clean-up at the Dockyard Cruise Ship Terminal, a popular littering site.

Ms Bungay said 94 people collected 1,231 pounds of trash.

Volunteers picked up a total of 1,215 cigarette butts and cigarette filters, 573 caps and lids, 480 glass bottles, 376 food wrappers and containers and 307 beverage bottles in the west end.

Ms Bungay said the team of volunteers found boat batteries and discarded electrical parts which pose threats to marine life.

“The heavy metals and toxins that leach out of batteries are very damaging to the environment, as well as fishing lines we are finding washing up on the shore, which can choke marine animals and amputate their limbs,” she added.

“It was great to see people coming out to participate, but the amount of litter in the environment is demonstrating how we can try to target areas that have been heavily littered and to create awareness of the importance of keeping the Island's beautiful coastline as clean as possible.”

Ms Bungay said data from the clean-up will be compiled to use as educational material in school science classes.