Teens Get Self-Serve Beach Cleanup Stations Approved

When eighth and ninth graders from Posen High School stood before the Alpena Municipal Council, they had data on their side and passion in their hearts. Their pitch for self-serve beach cleanup stations earned unanimous approval.

For years, these students have spent their free time collecting trash at Starlite Beach on Lake Huron. Teacher Stephanie Dege Goebel leads the group, partnering with Great Lakes Great Responsibilities to turn beach cleanups into hands-on marine debris research. The students discovered they were picking up over 1,000 pieces of litter every single year.

The cleanup stations will feature buckets, clear instructions, and QR codes with additional information about marine debris. Beachgoers can grab a bucket, collect trash during their visit, and properly dispose of it before they leave. It transforms a regular beach day into an opportunity to help.

Starlite Beach will host the first station this April, right after the snow melts. The city already committed to sponsoring a second station at nearby Mich-e-ke-wis Beach. Both will operate seasonally through November.

Marine debris includes plastics, metals, rubber, paper, and textiles that end up in our waterways. Meag Schwartz, executive director of Great Lakes Great Responsibilities, explained that preventing and removing this debris protects all five Great Lakes. Her organization launched in late 2020 with a focus on Northeast Michigan.

Funding comes from a Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan grant, plus local business sponsors and individual donors. As a nonprofit, Great Lakes Great Responsibilities depends on community support to expand its reach.

The Ripple Effect

What started as a high school class project could change how communities across the Great Lakes approach beach maintenance. These students proved that young people can lead environmental solutions when given the chance. Their persistence turned annual frustration into permanent infrastructure.

The real beauty lies in the simplicity: anyone visiting the beach can now contribute to keeping it clean without planning ahead or bringing supplies.