Volunteers Clean up Beaches the Morning After | SLIDESHOW | News

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. -- The annual beach cleanup is underway on the First Coast as volunteers are busy picking up debris on the Fifth tossed on the Fourth.

July Fourth attracts huge crowds to the beaches and plenty of fireworks, too. From Jacksonville to St. Augustine, volunteer groups armed with gloves and blue bags are picking up the mess.

"It was amazing how much trash--more than we have seen in years," said Maureen Buik, who signed in volunteers working Atlantic and Neptune beaches.

PICTURES: CLEANING UP THE BEACH

Dudley Freeman, along with granddaughter Karina, joined the team of volunteers who started the cleanup shortly after daybreak.

"We are here to clean up the beach and keep it presentable," said Freeman, who joined the effort for the second year.

In St. Augustine, an organized beach cleanup will get underway late Tuesday afternoon and extend into the early evening.