Meeting regarding littering on Masonboro Island

Community members and local environmental agencies came together today to talk trash. There seemed to be a lot of it on Masonboro Island after Fourth of July.

Jordan Branyon loves days like this.

“Masonboro Island is a big part of my life. We are here every day I’m off, every holiday we are here having a good time and trying to be as responsible as we can,” said Branyon.

But after the Fourth of July, the island looked a bit different. Green Coast Recycling owner Clifton Cash helped clean up nearly 2,000 pounds of trash. He took part in Wednesday’s trash blitz meeting in Wrightsville Beach.

The public was able to see the July 4th damage for themselves, and discuss ways to prepare for the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

Cash said, “People know littering is bad, people knew July 4th that littering was bad, they didn’t care when they were sober and they really didn’t care when they were drunk, but they would care if they got a $500 littering fine.”

Come Labor Day weekend, the intercostals will be filled with boaters, all headed to Masonboro Island, but this year officials are encouraging volunteers to help hand out trash bags at public boat ramps, to help consolidate their trash. Volunteers will also be equipped with dumpsters to put the trash in when boaters get back on land.

Law enforcement officers will be manning the island, they say their mere presence will let people know it is not ok to litter.

NHC Sheriff Chief Deputy Larry Hines said, “Our goal is not to go out there and issue a bunch of tickets or citations, that’s not to say that we won’t if the occasion arises, our goal is to educate the people.”

Masonboro Island preservation agencies are still looking for volunteers to help hand out those trash bags on labor day weekend.

If you want to help, call