Students gathered at the Waterfront on Sept. 20 to collect 27 pounds of trash from the mangroves. Photo courtesy of Lilli Digrande ’28
Eckerd College students used buckets and trash pickers on Sept. 20 as they scoured the mangroves for debris. In the end, they pulled out 27 pounds of trash, according to the scale at the Waterfront Complex.
Reduce Single-Use at Eckerd College, a program dedicated to promoting less plastic use, partnered with the Waterfront Program to clean up the area. Funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program and the Environmental Protection Agency, RSU has been a prominent voice on campus since its establishment in 2018. Its mission is to protect the natural habitats of Tampa Bay from plastic pollution. A few years ago, it launched Remora—a free mobile app designed to motivate users to use less plastic by enabling them to track their uses and refusals of it.
Lilli Digrande, a sophomore biology and environmental studies student from Wilbraham, Massachusetts, interns for RSU. Her main responsibilities are running the social media account and collaborating with other Gulf Coast colleges and universities.
Cleanups are staged several times a semester at the Waterfront.
“The RSU Team and Remora initiatives are important because plastic pollution is a large marine debris issue,” Lilli explains. “Once in the environment, plastic does not break down, and it is virtually impossible to remove all of it.”
RSU—headed by Professor of Biology and Marine Science Shannon Gowans, Ph.D., and Professor of Marine Science Amy Siuda, Ph.D.—has worked with the Waterfront Program to preserve the health of Boca Ciega Bay. Both parties share the same values of sustainability.
“We promote stewardship, taking care of our environment here. We would do … beach cleanups using kayaks or walking the property,” says Renee Register ’83, director of the Waterfront Program.
These events extend off campus as well. Recently, the Waterfront participated in a cleanup at Egmont Key, a small island in the mouth of Tampa Bay. Register describes that cleanup’s purpose as collecting debris washed ashore by storms.
In addition to partnering with RSU, the Waterfront has worked with Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Tyler Cribbs ’16, Ph.D., who has helped transport students by boat to their desired location.
“[It is] just kind of a natural team, you know, joining forces to work together,” Register adds.
Trash pickers and buckets are stored at the Waterfront Complex for students to check out for use, allowing them to make a difference in their environment.
“We provide the space and storage and the support in any way we can,” Register says.
Above all, the Waterfront’s mission is to foster a love for the natural environments of Florida and kindle a passion for protecting those habitats.
“We have students that are down here all the time,” Register explains. “It becomes their place … it doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, you’re welcome—and it’s all based on whatever you bring to it.” The sustainability partnership is hosting another cleanup on Saturday, Oct. 25, with the Eckerd College Organization of Students and Tampa Bay Watch. Preregistered students will kayak to Mule Key near Fort De Soto Park for the 32nd Annual Fishing Line Cleanup.
