Beach Clean-ups are probably the first idea that comes into people's mind when talking about getting involved to fights ocean pollution. At least it was for me.
Although it doesn't sound super inviting or glamorous, beach clean ups are one of the easiest ways to help. Who likes to lie in trash when getting a tan? (Well, I live in Ireland so no tan for me, but you get my point...).
If you don't know what beach clean ups are, here's a little explainer. Basically they can be big organized events where people gather at the beach to pick up the trash and minimize the effects of littering. The other way to go about it is to bring a trash bag & gloves with you whenever you go to the beach and take 5 minutes to clean up around you. Every little bit helps. So are you ready to get involved? Yes? Brilliant!
HERE ARE THE MOST COMMON ORIGINS OF BEACH TRASH:
-
Litter dropped in towns and cities
-
Overflowing litter bins
-
Litter dropped at the beach
-
Poorly managed industrial waste discharges
-
Lost shipping containers
-
Lost/discharged fishing gear
-
Recreational litter blown by the wind
-
Poorly managed landfill sites
-
Microbeads from personal care products
-
Sewage related litter
ALL THAT TRASH CAN CAUSE SEVERE PROBLEMS TO MARINE LIFE
Animals passing around can eat it and get sick or poisoned. They can get tangled in it (I'm sure you've seen one of the heartbreaking videos online). Something else that can happen is called ghost fishing. Basically, if you leave fishing gear lying around (eg. Nets), fish can still get caught in it and die there.
IT ALSO HAS IMPACTS ON HUMAN LIFE AND THE ECONOMY
When fish eat microplastics, get caught by fishermen and end up in our plates, who do you think ends up eating that plastic in the end? Some of that debris could also damage fishing boats and gear. The pollution also contaminates the beaches on a sanitary and visual level.
Beach cleaning is something I had never done before, and sadly there are no events upcoming in Dublin. That being said, I went to the beach to get some photos for the blog, and decided to get to work while I was there. I was actually happy to see that the beach I was at (Killiney Beach for you Dubliners) was actually very clean! I barely managed to fill a normal shopping bag's worth. And if I'm being honest, did some people look at me funny? Yes. Was it pretty disgusting? Yes. But you know what, I'm happy to explain what I'm doing and to actually DO something to help!
HAVE I CONVINCED YOU YET?
top things to know when going beach cleaning
-
Check for tides BEFORE you head out so you don't get cut off. Always have a plan if you are under cliffs.
-
If you can, wear protective gloves or use a litter picker. If you can’t, wash your hands afterwards. In any case I recommend bringing hand disinfectant.
-
Do not pick up needles, glass or any other sharps objects. Old or used needles MUST be handled carefully and disposed of properly. Ask your local surgery.
-
Do not pick up anything organic that is not beach litter. We’re talking dead animals or birds and poo. Leave it be. If it is a sea bird or marine mammal, report it to local authorities.
-
If you find a marine mammal (dolphin, seal etc) please report it. This is very important if the animal is still alive. Putting them back in the sea can be a risk, especially if young.
-
Please dispose of your finds properly. Some plastics may be recycled. Please check locally what can and can’t be recycled.
-
For me, beach cleaning is a great way to re-use the plastic bags I had already accumulated!
THESE ARE A FEW REALLY COOL BEACH CLEANING PROJECTS YOU CAN FOLLOW ONLINE:
1 comment
It’s great that you explain how beach cleaning can get rid of trust that could hurt injury animals. When doing this, it might help to make sure you have the necessary tools, such as a heavy duty beach cleaner. This could help you pick up the trash quickly and efficiently so you don’t miss anything and can have it properly disposed of.