ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — More than 1,900 pounds of trash was collected today from our ocean and shorelines in St. Petersburg as part of St. Pete Ocean Sweep Fundraiser.

What You Need To Know

  • St. Pete’s Ocean Sweep Fundraiser collected more than 1,900 pounds of trash from our ocean and shorelines in the city

  • Each year, billions of pounds of trash and other pollutants result in hundreds of marine life possibly harmed and killed because of trash, according to NOAA

  • Water Warrior Alliance hopes to raise $10,000 from this event that will go towards their Camp Coral Scuba Camp

  • Some of the prizes included charter boat rides, aquarium passes, boat charters and swag from local shops

But that number is no comparison to the billions of pounds of trash and other pollutants are in the ocean, resulting in hundreds of marine life possibly harmed and killed because of trash each year, according to NOAA.

Picking up trash is how Caymus Maxson spends her weekend.

“Definitely cigarette butts and bottle caps and lots and lots of straws,” she said.

It’s something you might not expect from a 13-year-old, but cleaning the shoreline at St. Pete beaches is her passion.

She even started her own nonprofit called Trash Turtles during the pandemic when she was just 10 years old with a mission to clean the ocean.

“I’m just a kid who enjoys the earth,” she said.

On this day, she’s been eyeing things in the sand with her family since 7 a.m.

“We do monthly clean-ups,” she said.

But today, her clean-ups are a competition amongst other groups to see who can pick up the most trash.

It’s part of an annual event created by the nonprofit, Water Warrior Alliance, to spread awareness and to raise money.

“If I can do something to help my brother and his generation thrive in the beautiful world we live in, I’m going to do that,” Maxson said.

And so far, at the end of their day, Maxson filled up her bucket with a mix-match of items.

“A whole lot of cigarette butts and a broken piece of a shovel,” she said, looking through the collection.

The family headed off to meet with the other groups to see how much their trash weighs. Whoever’s trash weighs the most wins their division and some prizes.

While Caymus didn’t win, she won the youth division with the most amount of cigarette butts at more than 200.

“If we just keep the positive message up, as we are going to do great for the planet and the planet is going to do great for us, I think the future is bright for us,” she said.

Maxson is leading the way to protect the ocean, at the same time, spreading awareness so more people can get involved.

Some of the prizes included charter boat rides, aquarium passes, boat charters, swag from local shops.

Water Warrior Alliance hopes to raise $10,000 from this event that will go towards their Camp Coral Scuba Camp.