Volunteers clean up nearly 500 kilograms of garbage from Richmond shoreline

Hundreds of volunteers turned up at Iona Beach in Richmond Saturday to clean up nearly 500 kilograms of garbage as part of the 20th annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.

Around 300 people took part in the conservation initiative organized by the World Wildlife Fund and the Vancouver Aquarium.

The project aims to engage volunteers and spread awareness to prevent garbage from piling up on the shoreline.

Last year alone, more than 400,000 cigarette butts were collected alongside thousands of food wrappers, plastic bags and cans.

Event organizers said shoreline litter and aquatic debris negatively impacts the environment and marine life and participants hope that lessening humanity’s footprint will make a difference.

With files from Jennifer Palma