Community post
Beach Trash - A Simple Challenge
I have been to beaches across our country and it is the same on all of them. Trash just seems to accumulate. Some of it is from people visiting the beach but the majority of it seems to be washed up on shore.
Today, while walking some trash to a nearby trash receptacle a local gave us a bag.
I'm sure efforts are made like this on other beaches, but I was happy for the bag. Quickly Stephanie and I asked the kids to focus on picking up trash plus the sea shells they were searching. It was great to simply do what the bag said, leave the beach better than you found it.
Immediately, I noticed a large amount plastic bottle caps. Could it be that we are throwing away the plastic bottles now and simply leaving the caps? Or do we now seperate the cap from the bottle in an effort to eliminate floating plastic islands? Enough on that little rant...
Overall, I was impressed with the amount of trash bins on the beach, every 200 yards at least. In areas with benches they were at every bench and table.
What simple challenges have you completed with your family?
Replies (6)
When my mom and I went to California, we didn’t even go to the beach because with all the garbage lying around, there was no way to enjoy it. My guess is that it washes up. I’ve wondered why garbage isn’t simply just all burned in an incinerator? But I suppose there’s no simple solution.
It’s good to know there are efforts being made to clean the beaches up and people acting on those efforts!
You should enter @hickorymack's #litterwalk contest with this! Great work cleaning up the trash. 👍
I imagine the bottle caps are because the bottle plastic is thinner and would break down faster, leaving the cap? Maybe? Also, some recycling systems tell people to not include caps because they are different plastic than the bottle, and so maybe it's just blowing out of trash destined for a landfill?
I spent 6 years in the Navy and I believe most of the ships now have incinerators but in the past they did not. And once you are great than 50 miles from land in international water it all goes overboard. I say this because I wonder if vacation cruise ships and other cargo ships have the ability to burn the garage they make. If not they maybe a large source of ocean trash.
We have one incinerator near us that burns trash and makes electricity. They are getting large enough they are taking other cities trash so I think your idea will happen but probably at a slow rate.
@phoenixwren - thanks for sharing the contest. Great idea to raise awareness!
Sad but trash is just everywhere these days! I do remember can collecting with my dad, I would ride in the back of the truck and we would drive all around collecting the cans on the side of the road then we would turn them in for cash!
Your Dad was nice. Mine made us ride our bikes and figure out how to balance the bags on the handle bars. I really enjoyed it! Lukr and I did it for years when we lived in town but the country roads are to dangerous.