From Operation Clean Sweep Published Materials
The cleanup of Marsh Island in Fairhaven is one for the record books. We have never seen so much ocean debris along one shoreline within the New Bedford/Fairhaven Inner harbor. Or anywhere along the South Coast.
We needed to bring in the best environmental groups, organizations and some of the best seasoned volunteers we could recruit.
Fortunately, it all came together.
A total 213 very focused volunteers removed more than 27,400* pounds of trash and debris, including 12,390 pounds of trash and 15,057 pounds of wood along the shoreline and on 11 Acres of land around Marsh Island.
The cleanup took place over four days: November 1, 3, 4, 5.
For information on how you can volunteer for future cleanups, visit Operation Clean Sweep at https://operationcleansweep.net/, email russ@smgnewengland.com, call 508-989-9049, or find them on Facebook.
*Correction from headline in previous versions. $27,400 is the updated number
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- Harrison moves a monster dock support off the shore of Marsh Island in Fairhaven during a massive cleanup the first week of November, 2025, that netted more than 27,400 pounds of trash and debris. Photo courtesy of Operation Clean Sweep.
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- Volunteers spot the camera while cleaning up debris on Marsh Island in Fairhaven during a massive cleanup the first week of November, 2025, that netted more than 27,400 pounds of trash and debris. Photo courtesy of Operation Clean Sweep.
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- Tangled lines and netting are piled up after being pulled off the shore of Marsh Island in Fairhaven during a massive cleanup the first week of November, 2025, that netted more than 27,400 pounds of trash and debris. Photo courtesy of Operation Clean Sweep.
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- The shore is littered with trash and debris on the shore of Marsh Island in Fairhaven before a massive cleanup the first week of November, 2025, that netted more than 27,400 pounds of trash and debris. Photo courtesy of Operation Clean Sweep.
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- Taber Academy students pose for the camera on the shore of Marsh Island in Fairhaven while volunteering in a massive cleanup the first week of November, 2025, that netted more than 27,400 pounds of trash and debris. Photo courtesy of Operation Clean Sweep.
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- A volunteer weighs a bag of trash and debris collected during a massive cleanup of Marsh Island in Fairhaven the first week of November, 2025, that netted more than 27,400 pounds of trash and debris. Photo courtesy of Operation Clean Sweep.
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