Scott and I joined the Seakeepers Society last month to celebrate World Ocean Day by volunteering for a Miami Beach clean up hosted by Clean Miami Beach. They only had space for about 125 volunteers and we met at the beach near 22nd and Collins Avenue. The event started at 10am and ran until 12pm. It was so brutally hot and I’m not sure why they didn’t start the event earlier.
Celebrating World Ocean Day
As part of the clean up a variety of educators and artisan vendors were exhibiting their goods. Here we found artists who turn garbage into jewels.
Beach Clean Up
I bought garden gloves for Scott and I to use (they refrain from using anything rubber or disposable). The group also discouraged bringing water bottles, but instead asked everyone to use non-disposable bottles. They did provide buckets (Scott and I shared one) and we each had a garbage stick.
The beach clean up started right at 10am and off we went! The group encouraged everyone to try and pick up the small pieces as that is what the fish and birds digest. In addition,they did have a contest for most garbage and most unique garbage.
It took us two hours to pick up three pounds of garbage. It doesn’t look like much, but we probably picked up 300 tiny pieces of fabric, plastic, plastic ties and cigarette butts. Most of what we picked up was actually felt and we figured out it is probably the felt found on a floaty air mattress that was destroyed by the sea.
Successful Beach Clean Up
When we returned to the main tent, they weighed your garbage and then had a team sorting each bucket. It was alarming to see how much garbage we picked up in just two short hours.
Scott and I are looking forward to joining Seakeepers again for another great cause. Help do your part and join your local clean up crew.
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Cheers, Scott and Ally
