How to participate in a beach cleanup

Many people visit the beach every year, but not as many people actually take care of the beach. Often times people just leave their trash on the beach thinking that someone else will come pick it up, but that trash eventually ends up in the ocean and is very harmful to all the creatures that live there. Everyone can play an important role in making our beach and sea trash free.

1.        Grab your picnic baskets

Try to use reusable bags and containers when you have a picnic by the beach. Bring your own bags with you so you can clean up all of your rubbish afterwards. Most beaches won’t have bins, so by bringing your own bin bags, you can easily collect all your rubbish together to take to the nearest bin. Beaches can be windy sometimes, so try to find a closed bin where rubbish won’t fly out!

2.        Avoid bringing plastic

The majority of trash that is found on beaches is plastic food containers. Plastic is extremely harmful to marine life because it never truly breaks down and is toxic. Birds, sea turtles and other marine life often perceive plastic as food. Using reusable metal water bottles and cloth shopping bags are the best way to preserve and protect a beach’s ecosystem.

3.        Keep dogs at bay

Dogs are pretty big fans of the beach too, and they love a good paddle in the shore! As pet owners, we need to be aware of the messes we make ourselves (as human beings), but we should also ensure that we clean up after our pets too. Pet-waste can pollute waters, and it's also not nice for anybody to step into, so make a point of picking up after your pets, and make sure you throw it all away.

4.        Butt really?

It may not be widely known, but cigarette butts can have a detrimental effect on our beaches. Cigarette butts are made from a type of plastic that takes years to degrade, and during that process they release harmful toxins – exposing beaches and their marine life. Encourage smokers to smoke away from the beach, and ensure that they properly dispose of their cigarette butts once finished.

5.        Feed yourself, not the animals

If you do decide to bring food to the beach, make sure it’s for you, and only you. Don’t disrupt the diets of the animals, such as bird or fishes that are sharing the shore and sea with you.

6.        Be conscious of your actions at home

Anything you put down the drain or flush down the toilet can end up in the water and contribute to its pollution. Use environmentally friendly products such as biodegradable soaps and detergents without phosphates. Avoid over-fertilizing your lawn as well. Stormwater runoff can cause fertilizer to end up in the water, resulting in nutrient overload and causing algae blooms.