TheBeachVoice

On the heels of the blue wayfinding sign debate, the recently published ‘Leave No Trace’ international program press release by the TDC, as well as the cover article in today’s Northwest Florida Daily News about a rare loggerhead turtle that washed ashore at Henderson Beach State Recreation Area which park officials speculate may have swallowed a plastic bag, I would like to bring to attention the sad conditions of our beach in Miramar Beach. Regardless of whether or not you consider Miramar Beach part of Walton County (or SoWal), it is one of the 14 beaches marketed by the Beaches of South Walton and - to many - a beautiful destination to live and/or vacation.

In a place that it celebrated around the world for its sugar-white beaches, it has become apparent that we are neglecting our most precious amenity that is of utmost importance to our local economy. As a resident of Miramar Beach for the past six years (and having lived along the Emerald Coast since 1984), I have sat back and watched with disgust every year as our beaches suffer from the ignorance and blatant disrespect of our visiting neighbors and/or careless locals. Aside from the obvious physical action of picking up the trash that has littered our beaches (which my husband and I have done on numerous occasions), I have come to realize that it is time to be “proactive” and voice my concern on behalf of all the residents that are proud to call the Emerald Coast home.

Below is a list of some of the litter that I found on a recent walk along a ¼ mile stretch of beach in Miramar Beach:

Beer cans
Beer cartons
Cigarette buts
Bicycle seat
Abandoned girl’s bike
Beach towels
Potato chip bags
Bottled water bottles
Plastic cups
Glass liquor bottles
Plastic ware
Plastic bags
Suntan lotion bottles
Cigarette cartons
Plastic juice bottles
Granola bar wrappers
Clothing items
Shoes
Candy wrappers
Beach toys
Laundry baskets
Fast food containers
Ice cream cups
To go containers
Fireworks cartons
Toothbrushes
Paper flyers

I have not had a chance to venture out and survey other area beaches to compare but I would imagine these conditions are not isolated to Miramar Beach. If enough people rallied together, we could initiate a county wide campaign that would benefit all 14 beaches of South Walton. For those of you that remember the 70’s campaign, “Give a hoot! Don’t pollute!”perhaps we could stand to benefit from such a campaign on a local, grassroots level. Through my travels to the mountains and coastal towns around our country, I have found that littering is widely considered the eighth deadly sin. Why can’t the same sense of pride that is found in these locales apply along the Emerald Coast?!?

I welcome your proactive comments, thoughts, and suggestions on how we can band together as a community to help make a difference and KEEP OUR BEACHES BEAUTIFUL so we don’t find ourselves in the same boat next year. Litter, litter and more litter...

Suggestions for discussion:

• “Tasteful” signage with a strong, consistent message that promotes the importance of keeping our beaches beautiful.

• Installation of proper dune fencing to ensure guided beach access and the protection of our sensitive sea oats.

• Plenty of conveniently-placed trash facilities to better enable the disposal of trash.

• Encouraging beach vendors and rental/condo facilities to participate by doing their part to keep the beaches clean.

• Stricter law enforcement on littering.

Bottom line: the beaches are sick and they need our help!

To see the evidence yourself, here is a link to view the photos from my recent trek along the beach in Miramar Beach. Please note these are all raw photos...none of the litter was touched or moved. None are duplicates. Warning! For those of you easily angered by litter bugs, some of you might find these images disturbing…

http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?UV=578885399951_59638231515&colli d=83959131515.38903231515.1207800422835&page=1

Smiling JOe

The litter on the beach seems to grow with the numbers of people going to the beach. I walked along the beach from Grayton through Seaside a few times, recently, and have been a little more than pissed off with all of the cheap plastic crap left on the beach when no one was on the beach. Not only cheap plastic crap, but boogie boards, plastic bottles, rental unit towels, clothing, shovels, dumptrucks and many other toys, buckets, plastic parts off of cheap plastic crap, cigarette butts, food wrappers, etc. Surprisingly to me, Seaside was the worst. At WaterCooler, the beach looked like Eglin AFB pilots had dropped a bunch of small bombs on the beach. There were holes which were big enough to hind plenty of pirates' booty. I almost fell into one while looking at all of the other craters, trying to plan my path down the beach. Grayton, even with all of the cars, was a cleaner beach than Seaside. I really wanted a trailer to throw all of the crap into, to haul it off. There was way more than I could collect on my walks, and many of the cheap plastic crap toys were in good shape and could be used again, if they weren't washed out to sea or buried under sand. I can only do what I do, but I do ask everyone to be considerate of leaving your stuff and your kids stuff in our backyards (the beach and roadways). Don't just ask your kids if they have all their toys. Go physically check.

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SHELLY

Geez Joe, was it so long ago that we would hardly fill up one of those plastic shopping bags with maybe a couple pieces of paper, a couple butts, a can, some fishing line and a broken pair of sunglasses---what a mess it's become!

I cringe at the thought of this summer's invasion of the beach nomads setting up, and leaving overnight, their rows of tents, umbrellas, and bazaars of beach junk and trash

.

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SWGB

All of them complaining about the trash on the beach.

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Hop

awareness becomes knowledge...knowledge becomes action...to the board...

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Tootsie

very wise words hoppy.

thebeachvoice. we have many threads on SoWal.com dedicated to preserving our beautiful beach environment, with many good observations and ideas for making them cleaner and safer. your discussion thread is very thoughtful and timely! such discussion helps remind locals and visitors of how they can help spread awareness and take action. so, thanks!

Miss Kitty

BeachVoice! Thank you for your timely, but sad post. I am arriving soon and will once again be the trash patrol on the WC beaches...it is part of my duty. I will speak with the guys on the beach about trash and those damm holes and once again let the WC "bosses" hear about what I find. Your list, while not surprising, is disgusting. Thanks for caring.

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TreeFrog

Starting my 4th year as a full-timer in SoWal, I find it near-impossible that a turtle could succesfully nest. The hole-digging seems to grow every year. You'd think it would be relatively constant. But even without it, it's almost impossible to find a square inch of sand down here on the eastern half that isn't trampled with footprints, except maybe in the Deer Creek area.

jodiFL

My son was just reading over my shoulder and saw this and said it is horrible down there. He said that he and 3 friends (all in their teens and not small) were walking down the beach a few nights ago and that all 4 fell in to one at the SAME TIME, walking abreast of each other. He said they just got out of the hole and looked at each other with the WTF? bubbles above their heads. LOL he called it synchronized falling but said that it was crazy.

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WARNING: Things posted by this user may offend some people. All things posted above are the opinions of poster and not necessarily the opinions of this site..or anyone else for that matter. They might not even make sense or be suitable for children. Come to think of it, they might be unsuitable for adults or human consumption. Have a nice day.

John R

BeachVoice, as indicated above, sad but true. Some people are pigs, and apparently those pigs like to go to the beach. The bummer is that the trash is not limited to the beach. We wouldn't have 'adopt a highway' programs if it was. Some just feel that when they're done with whatever it is they're using, it's not their responsibility anymore. It's infuriating because if they were standing on the curb at their house and someone they some garbage out the window and it landed at their feet, you can be sure they'd be pissed. What they don't realize is that it's ALL their front yard. Litterbugs are a subhuman species and that's all there is to it Tourist or local, it doesn't matter. It sucks.

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Smiling JOe

I recently heard that on the Isle of Palms, just north of Charleston, SC, the County has made it illegal to dig holes on the beach without filling them in. I would hate for that to happen here, especially when I look on the beach and see so many people digging holes and making sandcastles. It's not just kids, but daddies, mommas, grandparents, we are all doing it. I even like to dig holes and make sandcastles. However, I think some basic education needs to happen on some level, encouraging people to fill in their holes prior to leaving the beach. The South Walton TDC hints at filling in holes with their new push for "Leave No Trace" philosophy. It's a start. Let's please handle this situation of craters on the beach without creating another stupid law. If there is any one single thing that can be done to prevent the huge bunkers being dug, it would be to have the local retailers not sell the larger beach sand shovels which hit the market about three years ago. Let's get back to selling smaller shovels or just do away with any symbols which suggest digging. A kid can dig with a small bucket or their hands, if they really want to dig.

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kurt

Thanks for the post. Miramar is part of SoWal, even though it may appear to be more like Destin.

A few thoughts:

The beaches of 30A are not nearly as crowded as Miramar & Destin but also suffer from litter. Thankfully, the most crowded spots at Rosemary, WaterColor, Seaside, Sandestin (not on 30A)clean their own beaches which keeps a lot of litter from blowing down the beach or into the water where it would be carried to other areas. Condo and homeowner association should also be proactive.

Don't underestimate the amount of stuff that is tossed or inadvertantly lost from boats. Especially harmful items that sea creatures like to eat or get tangled in - drink cans and bottles, fishing line, bags, and many other types of harmful plastic. I think the pros are careful though.

Spring Break brings a lot young people and many beach parties. The carefree weeks are going to make the problem seem much worse. Kids having fun are going to make a mess. Perhaps organized cleanups should happen between spring break and the summer season. And also during the season and after. The South Walton Community Council ( www.southwaltoncc.org ) is one organization which in the past has smartly held cleanups after the 4th of July and other holidays.

When I go to the beach the first thing I do is clean a wide area around me, the last thing I do is check my area. When I'm walking I take a bag with me. It makes me feel good, not because it makes me feel proud but because I take pride in my beach, and just maybe someone who sees will someday copy. I know children see.

I don't want to get too deep into the problems of our society which are known to everyone reading this thread but will just mention a few hot words - arrogance, consumerism, apathy, rednecks, entitlement, disposable, spoiled, plastic, walmart, direspect, elitism . . .
Not to pick on rednecks but we do have a segment of visitors who litter everywhere they go. The kind who don't hesitate to throw stuff out of their car windows. One day a woman who I was speaking to on the beach who has lived here all her life threw a cigarette butt in the sand between us.

It's sad that the county has stopped installing sand fencing to help build dunes and protect some existing ones. Some private owners have continued the tradition but quite often just as dressing for seawalls.

Many thanks to the TDC which removes tons and tons of trash from the bay beaches all year long. I don't know how much more convenient you can get than trash bins at every walkover. The "Remove It Or Lose It" campaign is a good start. - More reading -

jdarg

I must have scared my mother-in-law to death about beach litter. She brought her own garbage bags from Kentucky.

She's patrolling the area around Western Lake!

30A Skunkape

Here we go again
It really makes me angry to see the proliferation of cheap beach junk on the shelves and floorspace at the local stores as our visitors arrive. I guess at least a good 80% of it goes from shelf to beach to dump (dump is if we are lucky) in a week or two.

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seacrestkristi

or leaving holes for others to break their necks, ankles, legs, etc. in. Yes, little swimming pools are lovely for toddlers but fill them in before leaving them unattended at any time. Build a new pool tomorrow. You may not be aware but your holes in the beach are hurting others, people and turtles included.

Note the cigarette butts! Yes, they are nasty litter too!

DuneLaker

Welcome, TheBeachVoice. You are indeed a part of Walton County and our beautiful South Walton beaches. In fact, you are one of the older and more historical beach areas of Walton County and the Emerald Coast. Miramar Beach has never been a part of Destin. Walton County is nearly 90 years older than Okaloosa County. Thanks for caring. Maybe the TDC will make another TV commercial to go along with the flags and gently instruct about not digging holes and not leaving anything behind on the beach.

30A Skunkape

Maybe the TDC can add another color flag to the pole-black for bottomless pits

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John R

i was thinking a large vinyl sticker on the back of the beach information signs reading "fill your holes before you leave" would be a quick info source.

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DuneLaker

Where is that post that SmilinJoe had about No Butts on the Beach. We could have a no Butts or Holes sign.

tsutcli

My wife just told me about a run-in she had with a beach chair vendor - Chairs for You - who was rude and told her they were not going to remove their chairs from the beach overnite. I thought Walton county had a law requiring removal at least to the walk-over on private property. Were the vendors exempted from this?

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DuneLaker

You may call Walton County at 622-0000 and report items left on the beach overnight. Try to have specific location and item, time left, etc. This might assist in removal.

bluemtnrunner

You said butt...holes.....

scooterbug44

I can't believe how people are so rude, careless, and disrespectful of nature, but I don't have a good solution for preventing it or changing their behavior. These disgusting slobs act the same when they're not on the beach as well, which is why picking trash out of my yard and street is a common chore during tourist season (especially w/ this week's slobs) and we have fires from cigarettes tossed out windows.

Given that they don't read the current (incredibly clear and obvious) signs, I don't think more signs is a solution, unless we are whacking them upside the head w/ them.

If we can effectively enforce fines, I'm all for it, but since we aren't fully enforcing the "no items on the beach overnight" it will be hard to catch people in the act of littering.

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"I hate to break it to you, but this year (and probably the next few) was going to suck even if Jesus himself was president. These problems were not created overnight and they aren't going away overnight." -Jdarg

SHELLY

I disagree...I say bring it on! Let's make our area a place for people who respect the rules and our beaches and send the others packing.
Filling in holes and toting out one's beach gear and garbage is not too much to ask......especially for a beachtown that handcuffs and hauls off peaceful visitors who just happen to be sitting on dry sand in the "wrong" area.

.

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Andy A.

Good for her! Way to go, Mom! When she is done down there, send her up to BMB, we can always use the help. BTW, the TDC does a great job with the litter bags they have provided at the walkovers, both public and private. Once again, thanks, Mom.

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TableFiveChef

Everyone can do their part. Make special trips to the beach once a week and get some sun while picking up garbage. Take pride in your hometown! We have to develop a culture of awareness. People will follow!

organicmama

The holes this year are HUGE!!!! We've been to 4 different accesses this week on the west end of 30-A and ALL of them have huge holes. I try to kick sand in them and stand on the sides of them so that they are a bit smaller after we leave. I wouldn't mind if they were illegal.

Our kids & I build small tunnels, but after we are done, we happily destroy them & flatten the sand back out.

There are shovels everywhere, just randomly left! I teach our kids to clean up everything we bring, even the tiniest thing. They know not to leave anything at all.

My brother, who's coming down in June, asked about leaving stuff on the beach overnight. He claimed that on St. George Island, they were allowed to leave their tents, gear, etc. all week. It really disgusted me, but I didn't get snarky on him. I just said, "That's not the right thing to do..." and listed the reasons why politely. (They've already rented a place NEXT year on St. George's again.) I'll watch him closely this year.

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swantree

I have always thought that those float tubes or snakes.....alone would take years and years for the dump to consume them....does anyone know if those things can be recycled? are they not just a large styrofoam cup (colored)...and the same for those boogy boards...those are just styrofoam..could we not start a collection point for those and have a Sowal team effort to at least recycle that if possible...I know,,,,just rentals alone..i see those things in the trash every weekend!

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Smiling JOe

There are problems with enforcement of existing laws. Adding more laws which cannot be enforced solves nothing, and just makes us yell louder. I have a good mind to solve the issue with daily shovel runs. What if each of us celebrated sunset everyday by bringing our big shovels to the beach and filled in all of the holes dug during the day. It might be pretty fun. I have always wanted to knock over a sandcastle or two anyway.

Skunky, you are right about the cheap plastic crap going from the shelf to the beach, but I hate that all of that crap piles up in the dump. I wish there were stations around the length of 30A where kids could go to get free toys, and throw them back in the Free Box when they are done, or just prior to leaving town (oh my, Smiling JOe is anti-capitalistic) so that another kid can use the crap. As the crap wears out, then recycle it. This entire disposable society we have sucks big time.

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goodwitch58

SJ, I think this is a great idea. I would also vote for total banning of those shovels they are selling to the kids.

Maybe some of the money used for trash collection could be used instead for a roving band of beach toy trucks--something similar to the Ice Cream truck. They could travel around handing out beach toys and collecting from again at the end of the day. I bet if smart people put their minds to it, a great solution could be found that might be funn as well as environmentally friendly and safe..

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organicmama

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Francis David

reddsings

Well last April me and hubby were at ed walline after a brunch at Blooms
we went down with a wine glass each to toast the sunset and of course, head back with the glasses for a refill

A cop came along and told, yes told, we must leave the beach at once, no wait 5 mins til the sun goes down, off we go

So if that kind of enforcement is possible, and large enough fines are imposed at various times of the year, [and its made very public ]
by the law enforecment officers that do patrol the beaches, and, the trash cans are more available and emptied, and the TDC addresses it, and Rental Property owners/agencies inform educate, along with local TV and Beach TV running warnings about fines and of course to leave it as you find it
and how about if we the community educates people when on the beach at sunset when people are leaving
then we have a shot at curbing it.
If that isnt done, then get ready for trashed beaches all day every day
the problem doesnt lie with who sells a plastic bucket and shovel

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SWGB

I was raised under the very simple saying that is located at every state park in Florida.

Take only pictures and leave only footprints.

I don't mind if people take seashells, but take your crap you brought. Fill in your holes. Personally I'm not opposed to telling someone I see on the beach that they need to fill in their whole, pick up their trash, etc. Tell the kids that are digging the hole that they hurt sea turtles and they will quickly fill it in before they leave.

As to telling folks about the remove it or lose it, the rental company I used to work for did it religiously. Better to tell a guest up front than deal with the whining of why the tent city disappeared.

Please don't flick cigarette butts on the beach, they don't always go right out. As a former smoker I understand you need your fix, but make sure it's out and put it in an empty can you take with you when you leave. It really hurts when those things burn the bottom of your foot. Not to mention I can't imagine a small child getting burned.

Has the TDC ever considered an adopt the beach program? Adopt a section of beach and keep it clean. Seems to work for roads. :idonno:

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Smiling JOe

If it was illegal to leave the beach for the day, without filling in the hole you dug, how would the Code Enforcement know who dug the hole and their address, for writing the citation? Also, if a three year old digs a hole, is Code Enforcement going to write the three year old the citation, if he happened to somehow manage to get the kid's name? It ain't rocket science. Think about these things.

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Miss Kitty

I am confused, again. Are you saying you were asked to leave the beach because the sun was going down or because you had glass on the beach?
I must applaud you for a brunch that lasts until sunset...!

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Mermaid

We'll be in SoWal for a week only but I promise to contribute to the cause by bringing a bag for garbage collection while we take our beach walks. From the sounds of it, my waistline should become plenty slim in a week just from all the bending over & picking up I'll be doing.

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jodiFL

Take only pictures and leave only footprints.
This should be the STATE motto....not just state PARKS....and should be printed on every walkover sign.

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WARNING: Things posted by this user may offend some people. All things posted above are the opinions of poster and not necessarily the opinions of this site..or anyone else for that matter. They might not even make sense or be suitable for children. Come to think of it, they might be unsuitable for adults or human consumption. Have a nice day.

TooFarTampa

This is a great approach, for when you have the opportunity to do so without seeming creepy. Bypass the parents and talk directly to the kids with a "did you know ...?" tone in your voice and they will listen, instead of stonewalling. I bet this will work pretty well with most little ones 5 and up.

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jodiFL

I agree, and it would probably make enough of an impression that they would go on to educate the parents AND others.

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WARNING: Things posted by this user may offend some people. All things posted above are the opinions of poster and not necessarily the opinions of this site..or anyone else for that matter. They might not even make sense or be suitable for children. Come to think of it, they might be unsuitable for adults or human consumption. Have a nice day.

seacrestkristi

That does sound like a grayt idea. You can talk to the kid while their parents are distracted digging the pool for them. Sorry, just a quick little visual I had. Love your siggy line jodiFL!

jodiFL

Thanks to all that have said this. Just wanting to cover my... as..uh.. bases.

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WARNING: Things posted by this user may offend some people. All things posted above are the opinions of poster and not necessarily the opinions of this site..or anyone else for that matter. They might not even make sense or be suitable for children. Come to think of it, they might be unsuitable for adults or human consumption. Have a nice day.

organicmama

I know some younger ones that this will work with as well.

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Sand Angel

My two small children picked up 3 bags of trash at Grayton Beach the other day. This week's guests certainly have been the messiest and most inconsiderate this spring break. Wonder if they would appreciate that title? It seems that they expect someone else to pick up after them while they are here. I would love to think that a campaign of some kind would raise awareness so that tourists helped to keep our beaches clean and beautiful, but I'm afraid all the work will continue to be done by locals who care.

I also have thought that a free/minimally priced exchange for beach toys would be a good idea. Do you think people would actually bring them back (maybe with a deposit)? Maybe we should work on getting one started. At least there would be a place to drop all the plastic junk that isn't quite ready for the dump. I would be happy to help.

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jodiFL

I just found this post from last year and think this would be a good time to post it again...

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WARNING: Things posted by this user may offend some people. All things posted above are the opinions of poster and not necessarily the opinions of this site..or anyone else for that matter. They might not even make sense or be suitable for children. Come to think of it, they might be unsuitable for adults or human consumption. Have a nice day.

jodiFL

I just found this post from last year and think this would be a good time to post it again...

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WARNING: Things posted by this user may offend some people. All things posted above are the opinions of poster and not necessarily the opinions of this site..or anyone else for that matter. They might not even make sense or be suitable for children. Come to think of it, they might be unsuitable for adults or human consumption. Have a nice day.

organicmama

That's scary & enough to possibly shock people into thinking about what they are allowing or doing.

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RideOnSurf

I've been in operation on the beach running the Ride On Surf School since 2004 and the problem at hand has gotten worse with each passing year. More people=more trash. Unfortunately the same laws, fines, rules etc. that were created way back when have not been updated to account for the enormous influx of tourists that have found South Walton to be their new drive-to vacation hot spot.

At the end of each day I comb the beach for litter and place it in the 1, yes 1 trash can available for the Pompano Joes beach access. Actually I am very lucky if I can get it in the can because it's usually overflowing by 11:00am. This is ridiculous! There are literally hundreds if not thousands of people in this area on any given day and with 1 fricken' trash can your gonna have a mess on your hands.

It all starts with us locals. Make an effort whenever possible to show you care. There have been several occasions where a group is walking away from a massive trash heap at there chosen spot and I'll walk right up to them and say "Forgetting something?" They just look at me like I'm crazy at first but once they catch on to what I'm referring to they embarrassingly apologize and get right to cleaning it up. We have to start the movement that will get things going in the right direction. More signage, heavier enforced fines, more trash cans and most importantly a local community that isn't going to put up with it any longer!!!!

-Matt

TheBeachVoice

THANK YOU to everyone who has expressed their support and feedback on this vital issue since my first post nearly two weeks ago. We truly feel the most powerful motion for change is to nurture the unique culture and spirit of this great area by being PROACTIVE - to inspire the local residents and business owners to spread the word of protecting and preserving our beaches in their everyday conversations and actions, as well as communicating this message in any tourism-related marketing collateral and publications. If there is any hope for change, it will have to start with the spirit of our local community and local people that make up the everyday fabric of this remarkable coastal haven. To ensure this is done with both passion and balanced minds, this will require a collective group of concerned residents coming together. Whether you agree with it or not, look at what was accomplished with the blue wayfinding sign debate on Scene 30A – a classic example of what can happen when a community bands together with passion and vigor! For those who would like to align with us with the hope of making a difference for the betterment of our community, please email me at thebeachvoice@yahoo.com.

And…in celebration of Earth Day tomorrow, break out your iPod or grab your family and head down to the beach with a couple trash bags. It is our absolute duty as residents of the beautiful Emerald Coast to pitch in and do what we can to contribute to the cause. Remember… EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS!!!

jensieblue

I wish we could find some way to teach young guests to respect the environment. I would love it if there was someway to reward youngsters for being good citizens of the Earth. My fantasy has always been to have an anti litter campaign where youngsters are rewarded for picking litter up off the beach. One bucket or bag of litter earns a snowcone. An accompanying adult could attest to the child's efforts. Or, a more random positive enforcement plan would be to post signs saying that those beach goers who help "tend the beach" could recieve a token from a beach monitor good for.....I don't know, what ever. Start the program by identifying those guests who demostrate respect for the beach and the word will get out fast.