Realtors trade contracts for cleanup, hauling 175 pounds of trash off Panama City Beach

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) — Realtors traded contracts for cleanup crews Saturday morning, teaming up with the Central Panhandle Association of REALTORS® Young Professionals Network (CPAR YPN) and the Florida Panhandle Marine Institute to pick up trash along the shoreline behind Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Panama City Beach.

Volunteer Misty Curtis brought her family along and said even without many leftover fireworks on the sand, there was still plenty of debris to collect, ranging from alcohol bottles to small personal items.

CPAR said it has hosted these post–Fourth of July cleanups for more than five years. Crews collected 175 pounds of trash, beating last year’s 135 pounds.

“It’s extremely important for us who enjoy it but also for everyone that’s moving to our area,” said Whitny Loughry, vice chair of CPAR’s Young Professionals Network.

The organization said they weren’t sure they would match last year’s haul at first, but they covered enough ground to make it happen.

Volunteers worked with buckets and grabber tools, focusing on items that can harm wildlife and wash back into the water.

“Any amount that we can pick up is helping any of our wildlife,” said Cindy Maire, a volunteer with the Florida Panhandle Marine Institute. The cleanup also raised money for the Florida Panhandle Marine Institute facility.

Organizers said the event is part of a statewide initiative encouraging realtors and residents to work together to protect Florida’s natural resources.

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