An estimated 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans each year. On July 27, the Elma Middle School Summer Program recently went to Damon Point in Ocean Shores to help with the problem.

The students found plastic wrappers, fireworks, bottles and lots of other garbage.

Along with cleaning up the trash, they helped the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by recording data about the trash they found. NOAA will analyze the information to help marine life. For more information about marine trash and how to help, visit marinedebris.noaa.gov.