Many major cities in the United States are situated in coastal areas around the country; 29% of the population lives in these cities. Beaches and the coastal regions are a gateway for most shipping lanes, but coastal areas are also a source of livelihood for most Americans. Whether it’s fishing, tourism, or shipping, we can’t deny that the coast has given people a good income source.
Since beaches and coastal areas across the United States have been making a significant impact in our lives, it’s only rational that we give back to mother nature by cleaning up her beaches and coastlines.
Whether you’re in Asia, Oceania, the Mediterranean, or in Europe, you can’t deny that beaches and coastlines are among the most beautiful marvels of nature. However, a beach can still be a delicate ecosystem, especially when it’s what easily gets hit by businesses and corporations dumping toxic raw materials and wastes.
Why Do We Have to Clean Our Beaches?
- Disaster Prevention – In most cases, the leading cause of flooding can be attributed to plastic wastes and garbage that clog up storm drains and other systems. Several ecosystems, such as mangrove forests, can help ensure that flooding won’t happen. Keeping these ecosystems away from harmful and toxic human garbage can help preserve natural resources around our area in pristine condition.
- Great For Tourism – The travel and tourism industry of the United States brings around $1.7 trillion in 2017 and has generated over millions of jobs. Since a good chunk of the country’s economy will usually rely on this industry, it’s only logical to keep our public places clean and orderly. Of course, tourists wouldn’t want to go to beaches with debris and trash scattered everywhere, would they?
- Diverse Marine Life – Not everything should be about humans, and it’s not just us who can benefit from a beach cleanup. The shallow waters of the beach can be a haven for a variety of different marine animals. Turtles, birds, and other animals will depend on beaches as a course of food, especially close to fishing areas and nests. Corals are also incredibly sensitive to alterations in water’s chemistry, so it’s only appropriate that we ensure that marine life is preserved. After all, every living thing has the right to leave a pleasant experience.
Pollution is a clear and present threat to most of the American coastline and around the world. Several types of pollution are on the beach, most of which don’t decay and will need a considerable amount of manpower to clean up. As such, it’s only appropriate that we have the right amount of workforce when organizing a beach cleanup.
Step-By-Step Process
No worries, we’ll help hold your hand through simple step-by-step processes on how to organize a beach cleanup.
Get Permission
First and foremost, you have to ensure that authorities know that you’re organizing a meet-up to clean beaches. That is the right way of ensuring that people are aware of what you’re doing, and officials will be able to extend a helping hand, if possible.
Sometimes, processing for authorizations can be time-consuming and might take days to weeks. As such, having a firm serve court papers for you can help expedite the process.
Get Help from a Site Coordinator
Well, since you’re the one who’s already organizing the whole beach cleanup, this could be you.
A beach cleanup is a community effort, and people shouldn’t be bickering over who the leader of the group should be. If you’re with friends, it’s best to treat it as if it was another day with friends, but with some cleaning, of course.
Gather Your Supplies
After you have informed the right authorities that there will be a community project that’s happening, it’s time to start gathering your equipment and supplies for the cleanup. You won’t have to worry about state-of-the-art equipment, but you will need gloves, some trash bags, and bins to store different types of garbage safely.
Get Event Partners
There are a ton of different businesses that are willing to participate in these types of events for free since it’s also a good marketing tactic and gives free publicity. When everyone knows that your business is well-meaning in saving the environment, then you’re bound to get engagements and customers.
Safety First
Of course, safety should be your priority. If possible, you should lessen any contact with any of the waste – you won’t know where it came from. If you have equipment that will protect your skin, by all means, use it. You can also use brooms and gloves to reduce any contact.
Cleaning up the beach might seem like a daunting task, especially when there’s plenty of trash that you’ll need to pick up, but try to have fun while you’re doing it! Just imagine all marine life you can save and all the families that can enjoy a pristine beach.
