Turtle Tuesdays have returned to Palm Beach this summer with monthly beach cleanups aimed at protecting sea-turtle nesting grounds.
The Worth Avenue Association announced the annual initiative will run from June through October, with cleanups held the second Tuesday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. The first cleanup of the season took place June 9, and the next event will take place July 14.
The program is organized by the Worth Avenue Association in partnership with the town of Palm Beach and Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach.
Cleanups take place on the beach at Mediterranean Road and North Ocean Way. Gloves, trash bags and other supplies are provided. Participants are encouraged to wear sunscreen, bring a reusable water bottle and wear a hat for sun protection.
Founded in 2006 by former Worth Avenue Association President Gregg Beletsky, Turtle Tuesday has grown from a small team effort into an island-wide conservation initiative focused on protecting beaches during sea turtle nesting season, the association said in its announcement.
Organizers say more than 14,000 pounds of debris have been removed from beaches since the program began, with material sorted and weighed in partnership with Loggerhead Marinelife Center under guidelines issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Student volunteers can also earn community service hours for participation.
More information is available at Worth-Avenue.com or by following @Turtle.Tuesday on Instagram.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Turtle Tuesdays return to Palm Beach for summer beach cleanups
Reporting by Jodie Wagner, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jodie Wagner, Palm Beach Daily News | USA TODAY Network
