The inaugural island-wide beach cleanup event will take over the waterfront around Bainbridge from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17.

The cleanup, spearheaded by Sustainable Bainbridge, is part of an international effort to free the beaches of harmful trash destructive to marine life.

Participants may, but are not required to, register at www.sustainablebainbridge.org/bainbridge-beach-cleanup.aspx.

You do not need to be part of a team to participate. Anyone can help — individuals, couples, families, friends, coworkers. If you would like to make your own team, all you need is to do is designate a contact person to register and have that person let Sustainable Bainbridge know how many are in the group.

Check the map online to see which transect (labeled by number) you would like to clean when signing up. Then crosscheck with the register to see if that transect has already been assigned. If it has, you can still show up to clean that area. Just make a note on the page in the very first box (“General sign-up”).

However, if you are willing to go to a transect that is unassigned, all the better, event officials said. Make sure to enter your information for that unassigned area. The goal is to make sure that all 53 miles of beach get the attention and trash removal they deserve.

Dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather, including comfortable walking shoes or rubber boots (wear shoes with a good grip – some of our beaches have slippery rocks), sunscreen and bring a water bottle. Bring your phone too. A smartphone is great if you like to download and use the free CleanSwell app (see online for links) to track what you have collected.

Bring bags and/or buckets for collecting trash. Participants can use their own or pick up bags and gloves as well as buckets to borrow and return at the Miller Road gravel parking lot — just south of Congregation Kol Shalom and north of New Brooklyn Road — prior to heading out to the site.

Trash and debris will be collected at a special station set up at the Miller Road gravel parking lot.

The collection station will be open on the day of cleanup between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.