Making a Splash: A Step-by-Step Guide to Organizing Your Own Beach Cleanup

Beaches and oceans are vital to our planet, and keeping them clean is crucial in protecting our environment. Removing litter from coastlines helps to prevent pollution, keeps marine life safe, and makes our beaches more enjoyable for both humans and animals.

As part of our commitment to environmental causes, we have partnered with Beach Guardian through 1% for the Planet. 1% for the Planet is an international organization that allows us to donate a minimum of one percent of our annual revenue to environmental causes. We chose to support Beach Guardian because of their mission to protect our oceans, educate others on how to help, and bring communities together for a common goal.

With winter storms bringing debris to our shores, we wanted to share with you how you can organize your own beach cleanup in your local area.

1. Choose a beach Select a beach that you love, is local to you, or one that you think would benefit from a cleanup. Some coves and inlets can accumulate more debris than others due to the direction they face or the terrain. Beaches with large caves, rocks, or tidal pools are more prone to plastic pollution, and these are great places to target for a litter pick. However, all beaches would benefit from a cleanup, and it's often surprising how much litter you can find when you start looking. It's also a good idea to visit the beach in advance to check for accessibility and to gauge how much litter is there.

2. Rally the troops Ask your friends, family, dog walkers, beachgoers, and community members to join you. The more people, the better! Whether you form a long line to sweep the sand, attack the beach from different angles, or head out in smaller groups, every piece of litter collected makes a difference. Also, consider if any of the volunteers will need special access to the beach, such as ramps for beach wheelchairs.

3. Gather equipment You'll need some essential items to run a successful beach cleanup:

• Rubbish bags to collect the litter
• Litter pickers to avoid touching the litter
• Gloves for hygiene
• A small plastic tub with a lid, in case you find any sharps or hazardous waste (only pick these up with a litter picker, not your hands)
• If you can't get litter pickers, try visiting a beach equipped with a #2minutebeachclean litter picking station. These can be found in many areas, and they're heavy-duty A-boards stocked with pickers, reusable bags, and sometimes hand sanitizer.
• Depending on the weather, it's a good idea to bring warm clothes, sunscreen, water, and a dry bag.

4. Decide on a time and day The weather plays a significant role in any beach activity, so it's essential to check the forecast and choose a dry and clear day. Weekends are also great for beach cleanups as families may be looking for community-based activities, and people will have more free time. By choosing a weekend, you may also attract the attention of other beachgoers and gain extra help.

Organizing a beach cleanup is a great way to bring your community together and make a positive impact on the environment. By following these steps, you'll be able to make a difference in your local area and help protect our oceans and beaches for future generations.