Once a single piece of trash is spotted on the ground, litter becomes inevitable wherever you look. No matter how small the trash is, the effect it could bring to the environment will always weigh more. This can serve as a reminder that pollution is still currently affecting our planet. Coastal cleanups however, can serve as one of the many solutions to benefit the ecosystem.
Eight million tons of plastic affect oceans each year, most of the debris consists of single-use plastic. This waste gets washed up onto shores which burdens the sea and land creatures, adds danger to humans strolling on the beach, ecosystem disruption, and so much more.
Sophomore Seff Cotterell mentions, “The annual coastal cleanup experience was very fun with friends, but collecting this much garbage made me realize how important keeping our earth clean is.”
Cleaning the beach does not only regard environmental hazards, but it also protects animals, marine life, preserves our environment, removes toxic chemicals from the water, and it allows for an abundance of positive impacts. Being involved in coastal cleanups reduces waste even if only a few pounds of trash were collected. Many areas host beach cleaning events which enables a huge amount of people to dispose of the clutter eroding the surface and everything around it.
Broward County, Florida makes it possible for the community to come together to solve the solution to pollution. They host annual coastal cleanups, and this year happened to be the 40th anniversary. On September 20th, people living within Broward appeared to give a helping hand to the county’s beach.
For their service, students are rewarded with community service hours for helping leave a positive impact on the environment.
“Just last Saturday, I went to the Coastal Cleanup right here at North Hollywood Beach,” states sophomore Atharv Agashe. “It was great because we got to do our part for our planet, and we got volunteer hours for it! A true win-win situation.”
Knowing the impact of litter, it is safe to say that any coastal cleanup will guarantee a successful outcome for everyone. Broward County will continue to strive with hosting these cleanups to protect the safety of critters, citizens, and the atmosphere. Do the right thing, pick up any litter spotted, and let these hazards be a reminder to make a change regarding the health of Earth.
