It's summer time! Finally, no more books, exams, or hours spent in the library stressing out. It's time to break out the swimsuits, sun screen, and spend hours laying down and feeling the ocean breeze. Though, you may be surrounded by empty beer bottles and chip bags if you are not careful. If you love the beach so much, you should love it enough to keep it clean.
1. Throw away your trash
It is the easiest and simplest thing to do to take care of our beaches and oceans. Hold on to it until you can properly dispose of it and earn extra points by recycling if you can!
2. Refrain from smoking
Smoking not only hurts you but the environment as well. Refrain from smoking on the beach front, and if you do smoke, please dispose of it properly. Who wants to see thousands of cigarette butts all in the sand as you walk around?
3. Bring reusable items
Using reusable items such as straws and containers can help eliminate much of the trash you see on the beach. Plus, there are some cute reusable straws that will add to your summer beach Instagram pictures.
4. Pick up after your pets
This is another simple one not everyone does. When the waste finally reaches the waters, it can affect the natural ecosystem. It's toxic to the wild life. You wouldn't leave it in your own home, would you?
5. Enjoy your beer, but cut up the packaging
Seagulls and other wild life often get caught up in your 6-pack packaging. By simply cutting up the packing (and then properly disposing it) can help to ensure they will not get tangled up in it.
6. Participate in a clean-up
If you live in a coastal state, or even if you don't, check online for beach clean-ups! It is a rewarding volunteer service and later, you can enjoy a new cleaner beach!
7. Don't interfere with the wild life
As cute as it is to pick up a starfish and take a picture with it, or how tempting it is to try to touch a fish as it swims by, leave them alone. You are not a professional and should let the wild life live in their environment. Take pictures at a distance, and soak in how beautiful they are (the pictures come out better anyway).
8. Clean up near rivers
Even if you do not live near a beach, you can help clean up at your local rivers. Many rivers eventually run into the ocean. Some trash found in the ocean actually came from up-stream! Cleaning around rivers can help to reduce the amount of trash flowing into the ocean.
9. Reach out to your local officials
If there are laws being put in place that can help your local beaches, go out to vote, call your representative and urge them to vote for bills that help save our oceans. Using your voice, is one of the biggest things you can do.
10. Educate yourself and others
Simply learning easy ways to take care of our beaches can help, especially if you tell your friends and family. Then as a group, you can participate in the clean-ups!
11. Donate
Even a simple donation, big or small, can help the many organizations that aim to help protect and clean up beaches around the world.
Helping keep the beaches clean helps to ensure summer beach trips can continue. Every little bit helps.
