BILOXI, Miss. -- The 2017 Mississippi Coastal Cleanup has been rescheduled for Nov. 18 in the aftermath of Hurricane Nate. 

“Authorities have closed all beaches for the cleaning that has to be done after the hurricane,” said Eric Sparks, event co-coordinator and assistant professor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “It is illegal for anyone to be on the beaches until authorities reopen them, so we had to postpone our cleanup event.”

All other details remain the same. Large groups of 20 to 30 people who registered but cannot volunteer on Nov. 18 should call to cancel, Sparks said.

The 29th annual event begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m. at more than 40 sites in Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties. Participants will help remove plastic bottles, food wrappers, cigarette butts and other trash.

Organized by the MSU Extension Service and the Mississippi Marine Debris Task Force, this event has helped remove millions of pounds of trash from the state’s beaches, waterways and barrier islands since 1988. Last year alone, volunteers removed 14 tons of litter from about 200 miles of coastal area. 

Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Adults must accompany minor children. Organizers recommend that participants wear hats and closed-toe shoes and that they bring water, sunscreen, gloves and insect repellant. Lunch will be provided to those with proper identification.

Registration can be completed online at http://coastalcleanup.extension.msstate.edu/. Participants should choose the county and cleanup site where they will volunteer. 

Supporters can also help year-round by donating funds to the program’s educational efforts and participating in related initiatives, including research and other cleanup events.

TerraCycle joined local businesses, organizations and individuals that support the yearly cleanup event. The company specializes in hard-to-recycle plastics, such as beach toys, water bottles and disposable plates and utensils. They will recycle a large portion of the plastic debris this year.

For more information, contact Eric Sparks at 228-546-1025 or eric.sparks@msstate.edu.