Latest news with #beachcleanup
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Microplastics are polluting our beaches and these volunteers are cleaning them up
Along the shore of Lake Huron on a sunny Saturday morning in July, Amanda Saxton and her children carefully sift through the sand. They're on a hunt — but not for treasure. Isla, 9, and Theo, 8, and their mom are busy scouring for microplastics hidden among small pebbles and grains of sand. "They're not like usual colours that you would find at the beach. They're blue, sometimes red," said Isla. They are among nearly 70 volunteers out at Station Beach in Kincardine, Ont., with buckets, sieves and trash pickers in hand, part of a beach clean-up organized by the Lake Huron Coastal Centre on July 19. The goal is to remove as much plastic pollution from the shore as they can — from cigarette butts to food wrappers to balloon bits. This time, volunteer efforts total 75 pounds of garbage, largely made up of small pieces of plastic, including 2,119 cigarette butts. Amanda, a teacher and member of the Kincardine Environmental Action Network (KEAN), has been picking up garbage along rivers and beaches in Kincardine for years. "I've actually noticed a reduction in trash overall, which is really great. But the microplastic piece is the concerning part, because they're just so hard to find," she said. "There are pieces of plastic that when they go into the water and beat upon the shore, then they get cut into smaller and smaller pieces, and they become microplastics ... but they started out as something much larger," she explained to her children. Microplastics — particles under five millimetres in length — can be from manufacturing, but many of them also come from degrading plastic items such as packaging and synthetic fabrics or litter left on the beach. If they're in the environment, they can also end up in almost every level of the food chain. 'Challenging to remove' Among the pollutants hidden in the sandy shore, tiny plastic pellets known as nurdles are plentiful at Station Beach. "These are pre-production plastic pellets, which are used to form larger types of plastic, so we find a lot over near the pier and all across Station Beach," said Meredith Watson, stewardship program co-ordinator with the Lake Huron Coastal Centre. They can be challenging to remove, said Watson. Tiny pieces of plastic take a lot of time to find. "There's really no other situation where tiny pieces of plastic are being picked up other than a beach clean-up like this," she said. "The time investment by people to carefully go across the beach and pick up plastic and garbage of all sizes is huge." If this garbage didn't get picked up, it would likely end up in the lake, and then be impossible to clean, she said. Even small amounts of garbage add up, said Watson, and people should be more intentional about making sure their garbage is properly disposed of. At a recent clean-up in Port Elgin, the group found a dead bird with a plastic ring around its neck. "[It] was really sad to see, and really, really impactful to see why we're doing this. It does directly impact the wildlife around as well." Don't leave garbage behind at the beach The problem of both industrial waste and litter from beach-goers is a problem cottager Catherine Marshall knows all too well. "It's a huge problem," said Marshall, who has a cottage near Bruce Beach. "Fortunately, there's a lot of cottagers around this area who really care and are very diligent in doing clean-up," she said. Tourists aren't always as diligent about picking up after themselves, and it affects the marine life, Marshall said. "If you see garbage on the beach, pick it up," said Watson. "It just makes the beach a better place for the community. We all care about the beauty of the beach here in Kincardine and along the Lake Huron coast, and it makes it a better place for everyone."
CBC
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Her summer goal? Visit as many Ontario beaches as possible (and bring home a load of trash)
Every weekend of the summer, Jill Price goes to the beach. She's not there to splash in the lake or picnic on the sand. No, this artist has work to do. Dirty work. Price is from Barrie, Ont., and for the last several months, she's been leading clean-up events at beaches in the area. Her calendar is currently booked through early fall. Every Sunday through Oct. 12, Price will visit a different spot around Lake Simcoe, and volunteers are encouraged to register online to join the action. At a typical meet-up, she and her crew will comb the sand, bagging as much trash as they can find. "I get a lot of thank yous," says Price, whose efforts are often mistaken for a community service sentence. When the work is done, Price disposes of the trash. But first, she looks for treasure. Lost socks, styrofoam, coffee cup lids — anything white-ish in colour. Those are the bits she saves and cleans — and prepares for public consumption. Earlier this month, Price opened a solo exhibition at the MacLaren Art Centre in Barrie. From There to Here: Walking for Tomorrow assembles all of the junk Price has collected to date, minus the spoils of her most recent beach cleans. Her entire collection fits on 12 storage racks, she says. "There's got to be 200 pieces of garbage on each shelf," and those surfaces are lined with plastic spoons, dental flossers, water pistols — all carefully arranged "in an archival, museological way." In the gallery, the effect is gently confrontational. "A lot of people take trash and make stuff with it," says Price, but in her opinion, the act of transforming waste to produce an upcycled artwork often misses the point. A statement on material excess can be less effective if the piece is grand or beautiful — or simply unrecognizable from its source. "It disguises the patterns of consumption," she says. "The garbage of today is the archeology of the future," she says. "By letting the garbage remain as garbage, I'm letting people see the past, the present and ultimately the future." The items appearing at the MacLaren Art Centre don't just come from the shores of Lake Simcoe. Wherever Price travels, she makes room in her suitcase for beach junk. She's done cleans in Curaçao, the Netherlands and the Azores. "[It] is becoming a personal archive. I'm now the caretaker of this trash." Back in Ontario, she's gone as far afield as Sudbury and the Toronto Islands — which is where the project began. In the summer of 2024, Price was doing an artist residency there. The island park is something of an urban oasis for locals and tourists, who arrive there by ferry, kayak and water taxi. But while taking a walk by the lake, Price was stunned by the condition of the sand. "I noticed how many sharp objects there were — how dirty it was," she says. "People were sitting and tanning amongst garbage.… The lifeguards: their chairs were surrounded by refuse." It was like nobody noticed the mess except her. She felt compelled to do something about it. "I found myself on the beach, cleaning it all week," she says. "I'm a guest here, right? And I'm trying to leave it better than how I found it." The garbage of today is the archeology of the future. - Jill Price, artist When Price arrived on the island, she was already carrying that mantra with her. The year prior, she'd completed a PhD in cultural studies at Queen's University, and much of her research focused on the waste created through the art industry. "[I was] really thinking about my own responsibility as an artist — to not be part of the problem, to be part of the solution." As she removed bottle caps and take-out trays from Ward's Island Beach, she reflected on that mission and how it connected to the effects of colonialism and her reality as a guest and settler. Every piece of garbage makes an impact, no matter how small. When a plastic bottle breaks down, for example, its toxins seep into the earth and water. "We end up consuming it in some way," says Price. "I was thinking about all of those things as I was starting to clean the beach." When her residency came to an end, Price decided to continue her new art practice at home. "I needed to treat the territory in which I live and work with as much respect," she says. That fall, Price led a series of beach cleans around Barrie, where she involved members of the community. "Well, I figured that one person can't do it all," she says, laughing. As the saying goes, many hands make light work — messy as it may be. And when she's able to attract a crew of volunteers, the sight of folks cleaning the beach inspires more people to engage with what she's up to — both at the lake and in the art gallery. Price says that some of her younger volunteers have come out to the MacLaren Art Centre to hunt for the stuff they salvaged from the beach. "That's been great — getting them into an art exhibit and thinking about art in a different way, like art as service." The show is there through Oct. 26 and Price will be leading a series of events at the gallery, including a cyanotype workshop where participants will make prints using the bits and bobs collected on her beach cleans. She continues to publicize her public clean-up events online, but even on Sundays when nobody shows up, Price dutifully tends to the shoreline alone — filling her bucket with paper cups, seltzer cans and a never-ending abundance of cigarillo filters. "To me, it would seem very superficial if I was just doing it for the show," she says. "It's one thing to do something for an exhibit. It's another thing to just do it because it needs to be done."
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Record-Breaking 365,000 Pounds of Trash Removed from U.S. Beaches by 40,000 Volunteers in Single Year
83% of All Items Collected at 2024 Beach Cleanups Were Single-Use Plastics SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 11 million metric tons of plastic pollution enter our ocean each year — which is the equivalent of a trash truck dumping a full load of plastics into our ocean every minute of every day of the year. The Surfrider Foundation, an environmental organization dedicated to the protection of America's ocean, waves, and beaches, has been on the frontlines of protecting the ocean from the harms of plastic pollution for decades. Surfrider's annual Beach Cleanup Report highlights the organization's national beach cleanup efforts and reveals the items most often collected — exposing the growing threat that rampant plastic pollution poses to both our ocean and human health, and how Surfrider's activists are tackling this issue head-on. ACCESS SURFRIDER'S BEACH CLEANUP REPORT "Beach cleanups play a critical role in addressing the plastic pollution crisis. They allow our volunteers to learn about the types of plastic that are found on our beaches and provide an entry point to learn more about the impacts of single-use plastics on our environment," explains Jenny Harrah, Surfrider's Healthy Beaches Program Manager. Despite the record-breaking efforts by their nationwide volunteer chapter network last year, Surfrider knows that there is no way to beach cleanup our way out of the immense scale and explosive rate of the global plastic pollution crisis. So they've made their beach cleanups serve a brilliant secondary function: data collection. Last year, Surfrider volunteers logged the most number of individual trash items ever, with 870,000 itemized pieces of trash recorded into their national cleanup database, with 83% of it being plastic. This data provides an incredibly clear picture of what exactly is polluting our beaches and coasts, which Surfrider activists use to campaign for stronger plastic reduction legislation, such as "Skip the Stuff" bills that allow consumers to opt-out of single-use plastics in their takeout food orders, helping to stop plastic pollution at its source. Another powerful example is that in states where Surfrider-sponsored plastic bag bans have been successfully implemented, coastal plastic bag litter has dropped by 50% since the policies were first enacted in 2018. Not only does Surfrider's beach cleanup data continue to prove that plastic is the most commonly found material on our beaches, but it also shows how plastic behaves once it reaches the environment. Plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming increasingly difficult to clean up and a bigger threat to the health of coastal ecosystems. Out of the almost one million items found during 2024 beach cleanups, one-third (32.5%) were plastic fragments. These fragments infiltrate coastal food systems, harming not only wildlife but also posing a danger to human health. Microplastics and plastic fragments bioaccumulate up the food chain — becoming more toxic the higher up the food chain you go. So even if you can't see anything wrong with a filet of fresh fish or the sushi roll on your dinner plate, your favorite seafood has an increasing chance of being contaminated by plastics and associated chemical pollutants once they've been ingested by marine life. Last week, a new report on nanoplastics in the ocean, microscopic fragments roughly the size of small bacteria, revealed that there are at least 27 million metric tons of nanoplastic pollution in North Atlantic seas alone — more than the combined weight of all wild land mammals. Because so much of plastic is nearly impossible for consumers to avoid, like plastic packaging for instance, which at 145,000 pieces accounted for the third largest category of trash, Surfrider is campaigning for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bills that will shift the cleanup and disposal costs back onto plastic packaging manufacturers. With over 140 EPR laws already on the books covering an array of hazardous and hard-to-dispose products in the U.S., it's time for plastic packaging producers to follow suit. Six states have passed EPR bills for plastic packaging, with more advancing annually. As a proven policy tool, EPR is essential to achieving a plastic pollution-free future, ensuring that producers — not communities — bear responsibility for the lifecycle costs of their products. At current rates, the amount of plastic pollution entering our ocean is doubling every six years. If these trends continue, the total weight of plastic pollution in our ocean could exceed the total weight of all fish in the ocean by 2050. Only by turning off the tap of single-use plastic production, through legislative intervention and industry innovation, can we ensure that a sustainable vision for a plastic pollution-free future becomes a reality. Surfrider's Beach Cleanup program is proudly supported by REEF and the Surf Industry Members Association through the Better Beach Alliance, which encourages all groups — individuals, organizations, and companies — to participate in the shared goal of ending plastic pollution. "Supporting Surfrider is REEF's way of supporting stewardship of our coastal communities and ocean planet. Our relationship with the Surfrider Foundation has been integral in striving to improve who we are and how we act as a brand," says Shea Perkins, Senior Marketing Manager at REEF. "This report is more than a record of trash collected; it's proof of the power of advocacy, community, and collaboration. The vital work led by the Surfrider Foundation and its vast chapter network shows how grassroots action can drive national awareness and real change," says Vipe Desai, Executive Director at the Surf Industry Members Association. "Coastal communities rely on clean beaches for their health, economy, and way of life. We're proud to support this effort and help amplify Surfrider Foundation's ongoing impact to protect our oceans, waves, and beaches." To learn more, and find out how you can join a beach cleanup near you, visit About the Surfrider Foundation The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's ocean, waves, and beaches for all people through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over one million supporters, activists, and members, with more than 200 volunteer-led chapters and student clubs in the U.S., and more than 900 victories protecting our coasts. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Surfrider Foundation Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
King Charles gets his hands dirty at beach clean-up in Kent
King Charles rolled up his sleeves and grabbed a litter picker as he joined volunteers for a community beach clean-up in Deal, Kent, today. The monarch, 76, dressed in a smart light brown summer suit, was seen collecting rubbish along the shoreline as part of an event organised by local environmental group Deal With It. Beaming as he worked alongside volunteers, the King appeared in high spirits as he chatted with participants and helped clear debris from the coast. Among those taking part were cadets from the Kent Wing Royal Air Force, Deal Army Cadets, Deal, Sandwich and Walmer District Scouts, and Dover and Deal Sea & Royal Marines Cadets, who regularly support local beach cleans. The monarch also stopped by the Walmer RNLI Lifeboat Station in Deal, where he met volunteers and watched a lifeboat launch demonstration. He was seen waving to crowds of adoring royal fans and chatting warmly with young military cadets during the visit. Charles's appearance follows Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Britain - touring the grounds of Windsor Castle and visiting a horse gifted to the late Queen Elizabeth II. But the French President has come under fire for seemingly breaking strict royal protocol after he walked in front of King Charles during a ceremonial inspection at Windsor Castle - prompting comparisons to US President Donald Trump. Beaming as he worked alongside volunteers, the King appeared in high spirits as he chatted with participants and helped clear debris from the coast The monarch, dressed in a smart light brown summer suit, was seen collecting rubbish along the shoreline as part of an event organised by local environmental group Deal With It Macron, who was invited to inspect the troops in the Upper Ward of Windsor as part of a State visit, was seen strolling ahead of the monarch while reviewing the Grenadier Guards and Scots Guards. In a GB News livestream of the event, Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker noted the potential breach and drew a pointed comparison. He said: 'On your screens now you'll see the King is walking behind the President of France. 'If you remember a few years ago where Queen Elizabeth II invited President Trump of the United States, during his first term of office, to inspect a guard of honour, President Trump was heavily criticised for walking in front of Her Majesty the Queen. 'And as you can see on your screens here, President Macron is walking in front of His Majesty the King. 'Now, I understand that there shouldn't really have been perhaps so much of a hoo-haa with what President Trump did, as this is perhaps custom - that the King, as the host, gives way to the foreign head of state which is the honoured guest at Windsor Castle.' Despite Walker's attempt to clarify the tradition, many viewers were unimpressed by the optics of the French President striding ahead of Britain's sovereign. Social media erupted with criticism, with some users suggesting Macron's behaviour was a deliberate snub. Among those taking part were cadets from the Kent Wing Royal Air Force , Deal Army Cadets, Deal, Sandwich and Walmer District Scouts, and Dover and Deal Sea & Royal Marines Cadets One furious commenter wrote: 'He's doing it on purpose. He's French, he doesn't believe in monarchy and he's an absolute narcissist trying to feel like Napoleon for 5 minutes.' Others echoed the suspicion, with one saying: 'I bet Macron is doing it on purpose. I bet he won't get as much criticism as Trump did.' Another added: 'At least Trump corrected his error by waiting for the Queen to catch up, Macron thinks he is the supreme ruler there.' In the video clip, Macron is seen conversing with members of the King's Guard as King Charles walks a few paces behind - a detail not missed by eagle-eyed royal fans. One remarked: 'And conversing with the King's Guard, as though the King was not even there! Unbelievable.' Some royal watchers placed the onus on the monarch himself, suggesting King Charles had failed to assert his position during the formal proceedings. One commenter argued: 'I don't like it but The King has not asserted himself or held any position. 'By speaking at the WEF, he is basically a pawn in the game and positions himself on par with people like Macron… the King should not be aligning himself with such degeneracy.' While criticism of Macron dominated much of the online chatter, a few more diplomatic voices suggested that the order of walking may have simply followed longstanding custom in which the host monarch steps back to allow the guest head of state to lead during troop inspections.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- BBC News
Multiple pigs' heads found washed up on Isle of Wight beach
A beachgoer has said he was "disgusted" to find multiple pigs' heads washed up on the shore during his morning Riches, from the Isle of Wight, said he was strolling along Gurnard Marshes, near Cowes, when he found about five used surgical gloves to bag them up and said he was "praying it's not voodoo stuff or an Isle of Wight Godfather remake".Isle of Wight Council said if beachgoers find a dead animal on the beach they "should report it to us so we can arrange for collection". Warning: Some people may find the below image upsetting Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said it had contacted environmental health to retrieve any outstanding Riches has lived in the area for more than a year and regularly takes his son on the beach to pick up pebbles but he said he had not seen anything like this before."It's quite disgusting really, I don't know where they have come from, I can only speculate."It's not very nice for people on the beautiful beaches on the Isle of Wight," he recovery worker said he often went for a swim in the area at lunchtime."I'm not going to let the pigs stop me swimming," he said. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
