Boaters will be able to dispose of unwanted, damaged, and unusable equipment for free at a special three-day event, November 2-4.

The Clean Marine event is intended to help prevent boating and fishing equipment from becoming derelict or discarded into our coastal waterways and marshes. Abandoned boats, old fishing gear, discarded equipment and building materials become marine debris that threatens the health and safety of our coastal environment. Let’s work together to dispose of unused equipment properly before it damages the marsh, shellfish beds, and endangers people and marine life. It’s critical the nation have healthy coasts and oceans. More than half the U.S. population lives on the coast. Another 180 million people visit the coasts every year. Human health can be affected by ocean water quality.

Staff volunteers will coordinate collection Friday, Nov. 2, from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 3 and Sunday, Nov. 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations:

• Grays Hill Landing

• Bluffton Oyster Factory Park

• Broad River Bridge Landing/Fishing Pier

• C.C. Haig Jr. Landing

• Port Royal Landing Marina

• Benny Hudson Seafood Dock

• Port Royal Commercial Dock

• Broad Creek Marina

• Edgar Glenn Landing (Old Lemon Island Marina)

• Palmetto Bay Marina

• Buddy &amp; Zoo/Station Creek Landing

Acceptable items for disposal include motors, anchors, dock lines, crab traps, nets, coolers, scrap material and accessories. No oils, fuel, solvents, paint or cleaners will be accepted at this event. Large items, including watercraft and trailers, and restricted fluids must be coordinated through Beaufort County Solid Waste and Recycling, call 843-255-2734.

Citizen volunteers are also being recruited to help guide disposal activities. For more information go to http://www.scdhec.gov/cleanmarine and www.facebook.com/CleanMarineBeaufort.

For more information, contact Carol Murphy, Solid Waste and Recycling, 843-255-2734 or cmurphy@bcgov.net.
<div></div>