Top 5 Tips for Staying Green at the Beach

Packing up and heading to the beach is one of the most-loved summer migrations. Lying on the sand, listening to the sound of the waves crash on the shore, swimming in the ocean or hitting up a game volleyball—these are all summer beach memories we hold on to long after we leave the beach behind.

But what if there were no beach to return to next time? What if pollution and erosion wore away at our precious beaches? As part of Blue August, Planet Green's Ban the Bags, Butts, and Bottles works to keep litter away from our oceans and waterways, so that we can enjoy beaches for years to come. Below are 5 tips to follow to help you protect the beach you love most when you come for a visit.

Top 5 Tips for a Greener Day at the Beach

1. When you head to the beach or other waterfront area, remember to pack out everything you pack in—a check list is a great idea. We also recommend going one step further by bringing a litter bag and picking up any trash you find. Check out the Ban the Bags, Butts and Bottles Challenge on PlanetGreen.com/blueaugust for more ideas of how you can help keep litter out of our oceans and waterways.


2. Reuse containers—bags, food containers, bottles —whenever possible and recycle everything else. There is a garbage patch off the coast of California that is twice the size of Texas and it's estimated that 90% of the debris are plastics.


3. If you like to fish, as many people do, stick to one easy rule: Don't catch your limit, limit what you catch. Just keep what you can eat, then use barbless hooks to catch and release any other fish. Also remember to keep track of gear and bait containers—discarded fishing line and other fishing gear are very damaging to marine life and water quality.


4. Remember, what you put on your skin, clothing and hair before you get in the water, ends up in the water— some ingredients in sunscreens and hair and skin products are known to harm corals, which are vital to world-wide ocean health. There are great nontoxic and biodegradable options out there that are very effective and safer for the environment.


5. Finally, don't just think about your favorite beaches, lakes and waterfront destinations when you are enjoying them. Be conscious of the fact that every time it rains in our cities and towns, litter and discarded items find there way into storm drains and waterways and ultimately into oceans and bodies of water we love. Be good stewards of the environment in your own backyards.

Following these 5 tips will help keep our beaches clean and beautiful for years to come. Do your part to preserve your favorite beach for future generations.

For more on protecting oceans, rivers and waterways check out Blue August

More on Beaches
Keep Your Junk out of the Pacific Ocean Trash Vortex
Pack a Green Beach Bag with These 5 Summertime Essentials
A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches
5 Beaches to Visit Before They Disappear
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