3,500 volunteers remove over 20,000 pounds of debris during Baynanza Biscayne Bay cleanup

More than 3,500 volunteers collected over 20,000 pounds of marine debris during the 44th annual Baynanza Biscayne Bay Cleanup Day, marking the largest communitywide cleanup effort for Biscayne Bay and surrounding waterways.

Hosted by the Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), the April 11 event featured cleanup activities at 33 sites across Miami-Dade County — the first time locations were included in all 13 commission districts.

Among the most successful cleanup locations were the Julia Tuttle Causeway, where volunteers collected more than 2,000 pounds of trash, and Biscayne National Park, where 1,700 pounds of marine debris were removed from barrier islands.

Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor of Miami-Dade County, participated in cleanup efforts at Haulover Beach Park and praised the community’s involvement.

“The support for this year’s Baynanza was outstanding, and I am so proud of everyone in our community who came out to help us protect, preserve and restore Biscayne Bay, our ‘Blue Heart,’ and our waterways,” Levine Cava said.

She also noted that the event was included among the county’s signature activities marking the United States’ 250th anniversary, highlighting the historic and environmental significance of Biscayne Bay.

Several county commissioners also joined cleanup efforts across multiple locations, including Little River Park, Haulover Beach Park, E.G. Sewell Park, A.D. Barnes Park, and Central West Basin Linear Park.

Loren Parra, director of DERM, said the event’s continued growth reflects strong community commitment to environmental protection.

“Looking ahead to our 45th anniversary next year, I am excited about the new ways Baynanza will grow,” Parra said, noting that Biscayne Bay contributes an estimated $64 billion annually to the local economy while supporting jobs and quality of life.

Officials said the cleanup also targeted microplastics and other marine debris, reinforcing ongoing efforts to protect and restore one of South Florida’s most important natural resources. 🌊