VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Choosing to volunteer over relaxing by the shore, Stephanie Turco spent her morning assisting Volusia County in tidying up Winterhaven Park beach in Ponce Inlet.

“I found a lot of, like, hard pieces, I guess it would be the plugs that would go in the fireworks,” Turco told News 6.

She and her friends walked up and down the beach armed with tongs and garbage bags.

The effort is part of the continuous Keep Volusia Beautiful program. Volunteers tackled various debris, from discarded plastic bottles to remnants of the previous night’s Independence Day fireworks.

Michael Nahirny, a Volusia County management specialist focused on recycling education, is leading this cleanup effort.

“They managed to collect approximately 50 pounds of used fireworks scattered across the beach,” he mentioned. “Such litter poses a threat to local wildlife, including resident turtles and marsh rabbits. Both animals search for food in the area and can mistake trash for something edible. If they spot something colorful, like plastic, food wrappers, or fireworks fragments, they might think it’s appetizing. Sadly, consuming these items can lead to dire consequences.”

Volunteers are encouraged to continue participating in cleanup initiatives. Nahirny invites the community to join the next major volunteer event, the International Coastal Cleanup, scheduled for late September. This event takes place at about two dozen parks and beaches across Volusia County and is part of a national and global effort.

Residents interested in volunteering can get more information by calling 386-943-7889.