Did you know that marine litter enters the ocean through multiple pathways? Some of it comes from sewage-related debris, some from wind-blown waste from refuse dumps, and some is left by careless beachgoers. To help protect marine life and increase wellbeing, here are some ways to reduce your beach trash:
To make the most of your beach vacation, reduce, reuse, and recycle your trash. Using reusable containers and packing reusable snacks for the beach will help you reduce the amount of trash you create. Avoid feeding the wildlife and birds, which may leave more trash behind. Not only is this waste bad for the environment, but it also increases the amount of harmful microorganisms in the beach sand and water.
When it comes to waste management, the three R's - reduce, reuse, and recycle - are effective ways to limit the amount of trash that ends up in landfills. The Florida Solid Waste Management Act passed in 1988, and Volusia County is on track to meet its goal of 30 percent reduction. Recycling reduces landfill waste and pollution, conserves resources, and reduces non-biodegradable materials. Buying goods with recycled content can help you to reduce your plastic consumption while shopping.
To help prevent littering the beach, organize a clean-up. Volunteers should be prepared with trash bags and instructions on how to dispose of rubbish properly. The event should be held during low tide, preferably in early morning or late afternoon. It is a good idea to write a thank-you note to the volunteers once it has been completed. It is also a good idea to ask the local media to cover the event.
Although it may seem straightforward, organizing a beach clean-up requires a lot of planning and coordination. Large-scale beach cleanup are particularly effective. However, if you are planning to organize one, you may need a permit. You can also get helpful information from the local governing body to ensure that you're complying with the rules. In some cases, a local representative may volunteer to help you plan the event.
Many studies have shown that the psychological benefits of spending time on a beach are increased when the environment is clean and free of trash. People feel more relaxed and calm when the beaches are free of rubbish. According to a study by psychologist Carolyn Wyles, not leaving rubbish at the beach can improve people's wellbeing. Having a beautiful, clean beach will help you to take better pictures and increase your sense of wellbeing.
In addition to not leaving rubbish at the beach, you can also take the time to reduce the amount of trash you produce at home and bring reusable containers for your meals and drinks. You can also keep trash from washing into the ocean by feeding wildlife. Feeding animals will cause them to spend more time on the beach, resulting in more waste and debris. Wildlife waste is also harmful to the water, as it can introduce harmful microorganisms.
Polluted beaches are unhealthy. In 2013, 10% of water samples collected from 3,500 beaches failed to meet EPA's strictest standards for swimmer safety. In addition to causing upset stomachs, swimming in water with pollutants in it can lead to a wide variety of illnesses, including dysentery, pneumonia, neurological disorders, and pink eye. In some extreme cases, pollution may even result in beach closures. To prevent pollution, you can take a variety of steps to protect your health and the environment.
To protect our beaches, we must adopt green infrastructure. By investing in green infrastructure, we can drastically reduce pollution at our beaches. The Environmental Protection Agency is the federal agency charged with enforcing the Clean Water Act, which regulates stormwater pollution, oil spill prevention, and CAFO manure management. Pollution levels at our beaches vary with presidential administrations, but Obama's policies were highly effective in protecting the environment. The Trump administration, meanwhile, has made several attempts to undermine the CWA.
A recent beach cleanup in Georgia resulted in an unexpected change in the way litter is disposed at the shoreline: trash receptacles are being removed from the beaches. Before, these trash cans were only available on beaches between Massengale Park and the Coast Guard Station. Now, all beach areas fall under the same "carry in, carry out" policy, which corresponds to the Leave No Trace principles of conserving nature. By properly disposing of trash and materials, beachgoers are encouraging other visitors to do the same.
To prevent the accumulation of trash at the beach, make sure to reduce the amount of trash you produce at home. Pack food and drinks in reusable containers to minimize the amount of trash you bring along. Feeding wildlife also causes more trash to be deposited at popular beaches, and can increase the number of harmful microorganisms in the beach water. Moreover, feeding wildlife can lead to overpopulation of invasive species in coastal areas, so be sure to pack up all your food in reusable containers.