PORTSMOUTH — Clean Ocean Access (COA), an Aquidneck Island environmental nonprofit group, held its first beach cleanup of 2016 at Weaver Cove Saturday.

Eleven volunteers removed 1,248 pounds of small- to medium-sized marine debris as part of the Marine Debris Solutions Lifecycle Project (MDSLP).

Of the 1,556 items removed, cigarette butts remained the highest count with 638 found along the boat ramp and shoreline. A large amount of plastic bags (78) and plastic bottles (78) were also cleaned up.

That wasn’t the biggest problem, however, according to Dave McLaughlin, COA’s executive director

“The most discouraging part of this event was the illegal dumping that continues along the beautiful shoreline of Portsmouth, including four flatscreen televisions, a six-channel amplifier, one sink garbage disposal, one mattress, a huge panel of broken glass and two tires,” he said.

Mr. McLaughlin said COA “thoroughly cleaned” the exact same spot in October 2014.

“We support increased environmental enforcement, but we are likely dealing with a few rotten people and hopefully bringing this awareness will prevent it from happening in the future,” he said. “We are grateful for the Town of Portsmouth, as well as Middletown and Newport with helping with the post-event debris removal from our events.”

The team effort Saturday including students from Middletown High School, Wheeler School in Providence and people from Newport, Middletown and Jamestown.

Future cleanups

Future COA shoreline cleanups, all from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, will be held on the following dates:

• Feb. 13: Gull Cove

• March 12: Pheasant Drive Beach

• April 9: Corys Lane

• Sept. 24: Pheasant Drive Beach

• Oct. 8: Corys Lane

• Dec. 10: Gull Cove

COA also holds beach cleanups in Middletown and Newport. For more information, visit www.cleanoceanaccess.org.