Volunteers clean up Deer Island

Volunteers with Mississippi Power, Beau Rivage, Harrah’s Gulf Coast, Golden Nugget, and Hard Rock participated in a clean up day at Deer Island.

Since 2005, Mississippi Power’s ‘Renew our Rivers’ program has removed more than 362 tons of debris from about 20 waterways.

Company volunteers have worked with nearly 40 corporate, community, and governmental partners. Because many of the Coast casinos overlook Deer Island, they feel it is important to keep the island looking beautiful. Mississippi Power Director of Environmental Affairs Michael Harvey said, “People come out and take part in these events. They recognize that there is a lot of trash and debris that gets thrown into our water ways and to our beaches. So, you know we are removing trash and removing debris, but we are also expanding the knowledge of people how litter can be such an issues for us and how important it is to get it cleaned up.”

Beau Rivage Community and Engagement Partner Elizabeth Naff said, “Typically per event we bring in one or two tons of debris from the island. So, it’s really important for us to give back to the community in that way.”

The litter collected by the volunteers will be shipped back off to the mainland where it will be properly disposed.