Live Like Luke Beach Cleanup Draws 1,000 Volunteers

A picture-perfect April 24th at the beach in Old Greenwich witnessed over 1,000 local residents of all ages bending down to fill buckets with trash.

The thirty-third annual Greenwich Green & Clean spring cleanup joined forces with the now second annual Live Like Luke followers to honor his memory along with several other environmental groups such as Skip The Straw, the Shellfish Commission and others.

Volunteers cleaning up Tod’s Point in the Live Like Luke beach clean up on April 24, 2021 Photo: Julie DesChamps

A large number of helpful participants represented the Greenwich High School Environmental Action Club.

Luke Meyers, A GHS student who succumbed to cancer two years ago, was a very involved member of the Board of the EAC and was determined to create a positive effect on the environment, both locally and internationally, which would live on.

The tally of trash taught us that what goes in our mouths often ends up in all the wrong places. 960 plastic or glass beverage containers were matched by over 2,000 bottle tops. 850 food wrappers were identified, but many, many more were too far gone to identify. Chips and candy are obviously popular. Plastic or foam cups, fast food containers and lids all number over 300 but cigarette butts are down from previous inventories as are plastic bags, however, over 600 were salvaged. As always, lots of toys, balloons, balls, clothing, fishing nets, construction debris and of course plastic straws emerged.

Many regular beach cleaners joined with students proves that many groups working together results in awareness and cleanliness.

Luke Meyers legacy is actually exciting. His memory will live on.

Volunteers cleaning up Tod’s Point in the Live Like Luke beach clean up on April 24, 2021 Photo: Julie DesChamps
Susie Baker and Sally Davies volunteering at the successful Live Like Luke beach clean up on April 24, 2021 Photo: Julie DesChamps
Some of the debris collected at the Live Like Luke beach clean up included plastic, candy wrappers and face masks. Photo: Julie DesChamps