21st Annual May River Cleanup

Mark your calendars and join us Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 9:00am to 11:30am, at Oyster Factory Park for the 21st Annual May River Cleanup.
The Town of Bluffton is excited to come together as a community to protect the May River from the negative impacts of litter.
In addition to the volunteers that make this event a success, event partners are also a crucial component. Event partners this year include:

• Corner Perk who will be providing coffee and hot chocolate for event volunteers the morning the event.
• i2 Recycle will be processing and recycling suitable debris collected by event volunteers.
• Waste Management will be providing disposal services for those materials collected that cannot be recycled.
• Numerous educational partners, including the Lowcountry Stormwater Partners, The Outside Foundation, and i2 Recycle will be providing interactive educational opportunities for volunteers to visit before and after they return from picking up litter. This is an important component because Beaufort County’s large expanses of salt marsh, tidal rivers and deep channels provide for a high level of biodiversity, allowing wildlife such as oysters, dolphins and cobia, to flourish. This also means that the ecosystem is sensitive to the environmental pollutants found in the stormwater that drains into rivers and streams, carrying pollutants with it.
• American Rivers, Keep Beaufort County Beautiful (KBCB), Palmetto Pride, Beaufort County Solid Waste and Recycling, and the Town of Bluffton will be providing supplies including bags, vests, and gloves needed to assist with the litter cleanup.
• M.C. Riley Elementary is partnering with the Town for the 8th year to host the M.C. Riley Participation Challenge. This challenge encourages students and families to participate. If they are unable to attend the Cleanup, students and their families pick up trash in their neighborhoods when they were able. For their reward, M.C. Riley students are treated to a one-of-a-kind live animal presentation to students at DuBois Park each year by Coastal Kingdom’s Tony Mills, Rob Lewis, and Rachel Walman.

The Town of Bluffton will be providing snacks and water, as well as grilling hamburgers and hotdogs for event volunteers.
The Town of Bluffton will provide all personal supplies such as sunscreen and bug spray.
This event provides a great way to meet your neighbors, grab a cup of coffee and honor the town’s greatest natural resource.