What You Can Do to Help Clean Nearby Parks and Beaches
The Ocean Conservancy’s beach cleanups are impressive: Every September, thousands of volunteers dedicate time to cleaning up their local beaches. The organization estimates that over 30 years, they have collected over 300 million pounds of trash.
Each summer, staff and residents in the AMC community undergo a similar effort to keep our local beaches clean. We are sad that we can’t do our cleanup in person this year, so we thought we’d join together virtually!
We invite you to host your own small beach or park cleanup on July 25. We can’t have large gatherings because of COVID-19 restrictions, but our individual efforts will lead to significant results for our beautiful beaches and parks. Read on to understand why we should all do our part, how to prepare, and how to stay safe.
Knowing the Why
Cleaning up beaches and parks has lots of great benefits. It makes you feel good, it helps wildlife and the economy, and it helps you be active.
Ten pounds of trash picked up from your beach doesn’t sound like a lot in the scheme of things, but as research oceanography professor Kara Lavender Law points out , “Even if it’s only ten pounds, that’s ten pounds that isn’t going to go into the open ocean.” We’ve all seen heart-wrenching pictures of marine animals trapped in plastic. When you clean up your beaches, you could be preventing that for even one animal. When you think of it that way, it’s quite satisfying.
Additionally, “clean beaches provide economic benefit to local communities in the form of tourism dollars,” says Laura Parker at National Geographic . “In southern California, researchers calculated that in Orange County alone that potential could translate into $46 million in just one summer.”
We’re lucky to be close to some great parks and beaches here at Beachwood Apartments . Whether you choose to clean up Twila Reid Park , Sunset State Beach , or anything in between, you’re making the world a more beautiful place. Plus, picking up trash can be a great workout!
Planning Your Cleanup
Step 1: Choose a day that works for you and your family or roommates. If July 25 doesn’t work, go ahead and choose another day in July!
Step 2: Gather supplies. Here are some basics to add your list:
- Reusable water bottles
- Quick-energy snacks like granola bars
- Trash bags
- Paper lawn and refuse bags for yard waste
- Gloves
- Brooms, dustpans, and buckets for cigarette butts and glass
- First aid kit
Staying Safe
COVID-19 guidelines are still in place, so your cleanup crew might be a little smaller than usual this year. If you would like to invite friends or extended family to join you, take this CDC advice into account: “When guests arrive, minimize gestures that promote close contact. For example, don’t shake hands, do elbow bumps, or give hugs. Instead wave and verbally greet them.” And to keep California’s mask mandate , be sure to wear your mask “when maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet from persons who are not members of the same household or residence is not feasible.”
Holding your own beach or park cleanup can really make a difference, and it’s sure to make a lasting memory! Please join us for our virtual beach and park cleanup effort on July 25 or anytime during July. Tag Beachwood Apartments in your photos and use the hashtags #AMCcleanup and #livehappy. We can’t wait to see you making a difference in our beautiful parks and beaches!
