Holland America Employees Remove 47 Kilos of Seattle Waterfront Trash

More than 20 Holland America Line employees left their desks behind for an afternoon to help clean up Seattle’s waterfront.

Working in partnership with Puget Soundkeeper, the volunteers collected 103 pounds, or almost 47 kilograms, of litter from Myrtle Edwards Park and beaches around Elliott Bay. The collected waste will now be disposed of properly, preventing it from potentially making its way into Puget Sound and the surrounding marine environment.

“Small actions can make a meaningful difference when we come together in support of the communities we call home and where our ships sail,” Holland America Line said.

The cleanup was held close to the cruise line’s Seattle headquarters and one of its key homeports. Holland America has longstanding ties to the city, particularly through its Alaska cruise operations.

Puget Soundkeeper has been working to safeguard the waters of Puget Sound since 1990. Its activities include patrolling local waterways, investigating potential sources of pollution and collaborating with residents, businesses and government agencies to encourage cleaner water.

Litter discarded along urban coastlines can eventually reach the water after being moved by rain, wind or tides. Once there, plastics and other forms of waste can break down into smaller fragments that are much more difficult to recover.

For Holland America employees, the initiative provided an opportunity to make a hands-on contribution to the community where many of them both live and work.