VANCOUVER, Oct. 20 /CNW/ - This year over 63,000 Canadians registered for
the 15th annual TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup to recover garbage from
more than 1,500 shoreline and waterway sites. The national week-long
conservation program ran from September 20-28, 2008 with dozens of public
cleanup events organized by groups including Vancouver Aquarium, TD Bank
Financial Group, WWF-Canada, Environment Canada's Biosphère, Biodôme, Parc
Aquarium du Quebec, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and the Dalhousie Student
Union.
    With approximately 50 per cent of the data collected from the cleanups
already reported, the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup today released its
"Dirty Dozen" list of the most common shoreline litter recovered during this
year's cleanup:

    1.  Cigarette Butts and Filters
    2.  Food Wrappers/Containers
    3.  Caps, Lids
    4.  Beverage Cans
    5.  Cups, Plates, Forks, Knives, Spoons
    6.  Plastic Beverage Bottles (2 litres or less)
    7.  Glass Beverage Bottles
    8.  Straws, Stir Sticks
    9.  Plastic Bags
    10. Rope
    11. Tobacco Packaging/Wrappers
    12. Building Materials

    "More than two-thirds of shoreline litter originates from land-based
sources," says Angela Griffiths, Director, Conservation and Environmental
Affairs, Vancouver Aquarium. "Through communities coming together to maintain
and clean their own shorelines, the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup has
made an important impact by preventing over 100,000 kilograms of litter from
making its way into our waterways. Thank you, Canada!"
    "We're thrilled with this year's turnout of more than 60,000 volunteers -
including nearly 8,000 TD employees - for our annual shoreline cleanup," says
Mary Desjardins, Executive Director of founding sponsor TD Friends of the
Environment Foundation. "The TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup has
experienced phenomenal growth over the last few years and we're really proud
of the difference we're making together."

    About the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

    TD Bank Financial Group has been a proud sponsor of the TD Great Canadian
Shoreline Cleanup, a Vancouver Aquarium conservation program, through its TD
Friends of the Environment Foundation for more than 12 years. The Cleanup
began in 1994 as a small beach cleanup with four employees from the Vancouver
Aquarium who wanted to participate in the Ocean Conservancy's International
Coastal Cleanup. A record-breaking 63,000 Canadians registered for the 15th
annual TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup and from September 20-28, 2008
recovered garbage from over 1,500 sites coast to coast.

    About the Vancouver Aquarium:

    The Vancouver Aquarium is a self-supporting, non-profit association
dedicated to effecting the conservation of aquatic life through display and
interpretation, conservation practices, education, research, and direct
action.

For further information: Media Contacts: Jean Fong, Communications &
Special Events, (604) 659-3561, jean.fong@vanaqua.org; Kent Hurl, Public
Relations, (604) 659-3752, kent.hurl@vanaqua.org; Jacqueline Burns, TD Bank
Financial Group, (416) 308-0177, jacqueline.burns@td.com