Taking Out the Trash: These Old Ladies Are Cleaning Up Cape Cod

# Taking Out the Trash: These Old Ladies Are Cleaning Up Cape Cod

**CAPE COD, Mass.** — A cadre of senior women, self-dubbed the “Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage,” has quietly become one of the most effective environmental cleanup forces on Cape Cod. Since forming in 2017, the group estimates they have hauled more than **6,000 pounds of refuse** from the region’s fragile kettle ponds and coastal waterways.

“There’s no better feeling than pulling up a rusted lawn chair from 10 feet of water and knowing it won’t be leaching metal into the pond for the next hundred years,” said **Sue Phelan, 72**, a retired nurse and co-founder of the group. “We’re old, we’re stubborn, and we’re not going to let plastic bottles and beer cans ruin the beauty of these ponds.”

The organization, which operates entirely on volunteer labor and donated scuba gear, focuses on underwater debris removal in freshwater ponds across Barnstable County. Their work targets submerged trash that is often invisible from the surface but contributes significantly to microplastic pollution and habitat degradation.

A Growing Threat Beneath the Surface

According to the **Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection**, Cape Cod’s 365 freshwater ponds are under increasing stress from nutrient loading and non-biodegradable waste. While beach cleanups are common, underwater debris—including fishing line, lead sinkers, bottles, and abandoned docks—remains largely overlooked.

“These ladies are filling a critical gap in our environmental management,” said **Dr. Emily Westerman, a marine ecologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution**. “Submerged plastics and metals degrade slowly, releasing chemicals and physically smashing benthic habitats. Their work is measurable, impactful, and frankly, inspiring.”

The group’s tally of 6,000 pounds removed is conservative, members say, because many dives are not formally logged. The trash includes everything from **tires and shopping carts to an entire 12-foot aluminum rowboat** pulled from Flax Pond in 2022.

How They Operate

The Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage—a name chosen to disarm and delight—meet weekly during the summer months. Members range in age from **65 to 84**, and all are certified scuba divers. They use mesh collection bags, lift bags for heavy objects, and a small flatboat to transport debris to shore, where it is sorted for recycling or proper disposal.

“We’re not radical environmentalists. We’re just a bunch of grandmothers who love the water and hate trash,” said **Peggy O’Neill, 69**, a retired schoolteacher. “People see us coming out of the pond with a shopping cart and they stop and ask what we’re doing. That’s how we recruit.”

The group’s efforts have drawn attention from local conservation groups and the **Cape Cod Commission**, which is now exploring a pilot program to fund underwater cleanups in public ponds. The Old Ladies have also inspired similar groups in **Maine, Rhode Island, and even as far as Florida**, according to internal communications shared with LOPINUZE.

A Measurable Impact on Water Quality

While 6,000 pounds of debris may seem modest compared to ocean cleanups, ecologists emphasize the importance of removing waste from closed freshwater systems. A 2021 study published in *Environmental Science & Technology* found that submerged plastics in ponds degrade faster in sunlit shallow waters, releasing bisphenol A and other endocrine disruptors.

“Every piece of plastic they pull out is a piece that won’t break down into microplastics that enter the food chain,” Dr. Westerman added. “These women are literally preventing future harm, one dive at a time.”

Looking Ahead

The Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage plan to expand their dives to include **saltwater estuaries** in 2025, pending funding for additional air tanks and boat rentals. They are also developing a training manual to help other senior groups start similar programs.

“We’re not going to save the world,” Phelan said with a laugh. “But we can sure clean up our little corner of it. And we’re having a blast doing it.”

For more on grassroots environmental efforts, visit our Climate Desk and Community section.