Grayton Beach Trash Patrol

Allifunn · 06-12-2009, 02:05 PM

I was on Grayton beach at 7:30-9:00 this morning. I always take extra bags to pick up trash...sad how much stuff I pick up off the PUBLIC beach. If it is close to the shore line...I throw it away.
3 tee shirts
3 broken shovels
2 long plastic shovels
2 sand bucket handles
3 empty cigarette packs
1 sock
6 water bottles
5 gatorade/powerade bottles
5 plastic cups
3 beach toys
1 bad mitton birdie
1 frizbie
3 fishing worms
10 cigarette butts (GURRRRR)
5 balloon strings
2 hair ties
about four dozen various, indiscernible pieces of trash
6 straws
1 quarter
1 snapping alligator thing-a-ma-bobber toy (I offered to some people near-by to take it for their kids, otherwise I was going to throw it away)
1 baseball woffa ball
1 plastic sand scooper
1 sand bucket

OK...so I didn't throw everything away...I kept the quarter

And a few other things that will come in handy if any kids visit me.
The TDC passed me and asked me if I wanted to throw my trash in the truck and I told him I needed to keep the bag cauz there was more trash to be picked up.

It still boggles my mind how much trash is left on our beautiful beaches

As I was walking down the beach I saw so many foot prints of other people that walked right on top of the trash I picked up...how disgusting is that?

There were also about 12 tents/camps set up in the "PRIVATE" beach area....it looks TRASHY and TACKY on pristine beaches ( makes me think of Myrtle Beach

). Sad that they care so little for the beautiful beach they are visiting. It was nice to see that some of the camps had been pulled close to the beach houses. There were only 2 tents at the Grayton Beach out fall, two too many.(unless the tents were set up at 7:00 in the morning

)

WaterCourseWay · 06-12-2009, 02:16 PM

That is just disgusting. I thought it was bad over here by Watersound beach, when I picked up a piece of tupperware and an empty capri sun yesterday. And there is a tent that's been set up here forever; now it's just a white frame, with some crap under it; the cover apparently blew off, making it even more difficult to see. But this does not even compare with the list of stuff you just made... what is wrong with people????

kkddbb · 06-12-2009, 02:23 PM

I feel your pain. I too am on the beach several times daily and seam to fill the back of my truck with trash everytime i leave. But, we shouldnt be surprised in a new society of entitlement when its easier to look the away and assume someone else will take care of it. Its beyond saddening, its angering to me. And I have plenty of amusing stories on what we've done to combat tents left on the beach. I wont introduce our tactics though. Sometimes you just have to take the law into your own hands. But, if we all do our part we can keep this place what it is-paradise.

MissCritter · 06-12-2009, 03:05 PM

And I'd be willing to bet that if the TDC and private citizens left the trash on the beach the perpetrators would ask for refunds and vow not to return. If it wouldn't be such a hardship for local owners and businesses or a disruption to nesting season, it might be a tactic worth trying. Or would littered beaches simply attract increasingly messy visitors?

It angers me too, kkddbb, that some people would come here because of our pristine beaches, then be rude, discourteous or thoughtless enough to trash them.*

*Disclaimer: This sentiment does not apply to the vast majority of thoughtful, courteous visitors who appreciate our gorgeous coastline, and do their part to ensure it stays that way. We are delighted to have you visit us.

Allifunn · 06-12-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissCritter

*Disclaimer: This sentiment does not apply to the vast majority of thoughtful, courteous visitors who appreciate our gorgeous coastline, and do their part to ensure it stays that way. We are delighted to have you visit us.

I agree 100% Misscritter. I was one of those visitors not too long ago.
It just makes me sad to see all the trash. I know some things are inevitable (paper wrappers blowing away...etc) but water bottles, cups and that sort of thing are so easy to remove and throw away!!!

I think I'll keep this thread going every time I go to the beach and list each time what I have picked up...hopefully people will be encouraged to do the same!

salidaco · 06-12-2009, 04:37 PM

I was going to call dibs on the Quarter...thanks Allifun, the garbage is getting OLD!!

gotothebeachmom · 06-12-2009, 09:40 PM

Allifuun,

Thank you. It boggles my mind that people don't respect such beauty and serenity. I just don't get it.

Allifunn · 06-12-2009, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotothebeachmom

Allifuun,

Thank you. It boggles my mind that people don't respect such beauty and serenity. I just don't get it.

I miss you, when are you in town next? We will pick up trash together....

Your babies are growing up!

Too cute!

DD · 06-13-2009, 10:02 AM

Allifunn, you rock. SoWal is better now that you're there.

bluecat · 06-13-2009, 04:04 PM

Some people would run over a garbage can and wonder why someone put it there. Would hate to see what their houses look like.

Allifunn · 06-15-2009, 07:25 AM

Yesterday I picked up:

4 plastic cups
1 sand bucket handle
5 beer bottles (GLASS

)
8 beer cans
4 water/gatorade bottles
several remnents of fire works
I stopped counting the cigarette butts at 40
2 hair ties
3 bandaids
tons of little scraps of trash
2 empty cigatette packs

It was not as bad as Friday.

I also saw flower stems (roses, daisies etc.) strewn around the Western Lake out fall. There were whole crawfish on the shore too. I figured there must have been a Cajun wedding or memorial

Even though they are biodegradeable, it looked horrible!

Speaking of the out fall, it is very interesting how Friday the gulf was flowing into the out flow and it was a straight flow. Yesterday it was flowing from the lake and it was snakey...what a difference a few days make...I love seeing the daily changes in the gulf

tampababe · 07-08-2009, 10:58 AM

Yes, there are people that clean up behind themselves, but many that do not. The people that think the beach is a giant ashtray are the worst offenders. Stop smoking people! or use your beer can to put your ashes and butts. Also, it would be nice if the Sheriff dept. would ticket those that park their vehicles in the Grayton Beach entrance. If there is sand, it is required that only 4 wheel drive, permitted vehicles have beach access. Others are giant pieces of trash in my mind, that just get stuck and ruin the gorgeous sand dune and once white sand there. (and) Ticket the offenders, not the sweet dogs!

mikecatadjuster · 07-08-2009, 02:09 PM

The city should be able to hire, I don't know, maybe a big bully. And every time someone is seen throwing away a cigarette butt into the sand or leaving the beach with their trash on it, the bully should be allowed to slap them 'upside the head' and embarrass the hell out of them.

I think public ridicule and possibly the bully sentenceing the offending party to walk the beach and collect a garbage bag full of stuff, as a penalty, would be nice.

I had someone thank me the other day as they watched me pick up other peoples trash. That was nice of him. We were on the same wave length. It just makes me sick, and always has, how some people are so selfish and repulsive as to look at the beach a their personal dump. And it's not the beach for them, it's everywhere they go.

Water Boy · 07-08-2009, 10:10 PM

Has anybody notice all the trash along 30A and Hwy 98 lately. It is truly disgusting what some people are doing to our little corner of the world.

InletBchOwnr · 07-09-2009, 07:48 AM

My son and I picked up handfulls of trash on 7/5 and again on 7/6 and 7/7 with my wife joining in the collecting. We used just our hands to pick up stuff but we dumped handfulls in each trash can we passed. Besides the firworks detritus, we found the usual stuff as mentioned above and endless cigarette butts which we don't pick up. Watermelon rinds, lime and lemon slices dessicated by sun and salt, plastic crap, balloon pieces, straws, solitary flips of the flip flop clan, socks, clothing pieces, plastic shovels, all left by our esteemed visitors. Then the sheer volume of shelters, chairs and umbrellas. Many shelters are left up overnight but with the canopy removed, then just left as the visitors go home. The warnings posted around are ignored since there is no enforcement. I wish we had some printed warnings and notices that could be posted on the shelters and stuff bringing the message home, but nothing is going to stop the littering, nothing as long as there are no real laws and enforcement. And here at Inlet Beach as soon as the public bathroom is built, I am willing to bet that the trash will accumulate faster in greater volume than anyone can imagine. The once pristine sands are loosing their gleam.