If you’re big into whale watching San Diego, hiking in nature, or even just relaxing on the beach, you may already be planning a few fun activities for Earth Day. Although taking the time to appreciate nature on Earth Day is important, if you want to get really involved and make an impact, there are a few other steps you can take. If you live in or near a beach community, for example, you may want to organize a beach clean-up to remove garbage, debris, and other potentially harmful materials from the shoreline to support a healthier environment. Whether you plan to work with a group to get this clean-up together or whether you want to helm the effort yourself, here are some organizational tips that could help make the clean-up go off without a hitch.
What Is A Beach Clean Up?
Before you can clean up your beach and sit back for some whale watching San Diego, you may want to learn about the main purposes of a beach clean-up. In addition to fostering a stronger sense of community and responsibility, there are several practical environmental purposes for putting in the effort to organize a clean-up as well. Clean-ups generally involve:
- Removing trash from the beach
- Trimming hedges and other plants near the beach
- Ensuring no chemicals or debris are polluting the beach
Steps & Tips To Organize A Successful Beach Clean Up
If you have a sense of how do humans depend on the ocean, you may feel extra motivated to take care of your local beach. Although the success of a clean-up can be defined in a few different ways, truly impactful clean-ups lead to:
- Improving the cleanliness and safety of local beaches
- Caring for the environment
- Getting the community together for a team effort
Meticulous planning is the key to pulling off a major beach clean-up, especially if you plan to get the whole beach cleaned off on Earth Day alone. No matter how small or how large your group of volunteers is, having a set schedule and a dedicated manager can eliminate confusion and keep the focus on removing trash and debris. To ensure a smooth clean-up, you may want to:
- Designate a coordinator to manage the event
- Choose your desired beach clean-up locations
- Screen the site in advance to determine its state and the extent of clean-up needed
- Contact a local recycling site to take any eligible materials from the beach
- Partner with other local clean-up groups for greater efficiency
- Pack safety supplies, such as gloves, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, water bottles, and first aid kits
Organizing a local clean-up at your community beach is a simple yet powerful step you can take to care for the environment on Earth Day. Whether or not you have experience organizing a community beach clean-up, you can ensure your event goes off without a hitch by following these steps and tips. Understanding the purpose of a beach clean-up and putting in careful planning can help you remove harmful debris from your beach and ensure a safe, clean, and pristine environment that all community members will be able to enjoy for years to come.