Everybody loves going to the beach, especially during the summers. Unfortunately, people tend to leave behind a lot of trash. This has a much bigger impact on the environment than just making our beaches less clean. It’s why July has been named Clean Beaches Month as a way to raise awareness.

The Impact of Beach Pollution

Plastic waste breaks down at an extremely slow rate. For example, a plastic bottle that enters the ocean in 1986 won’t decompose until 2436. That’s still much faster than the length of time it takes for a glass bottle to decompose – it’s estimated a glass bottle that enters the ocean will take over a thousand years to begin decomposing.

Not only are we filling the ocean with litter, but plastic tends to attract and concentrate other pollutants found in the seawater. This poses a serious contamination risk to the surrounding sea life and could affect human life as well. Additionally, trash in the ocean can cause entanglement and suffocation to sea life.

The Benefits of a Beach Cleanup

The following are two of the main reasons you should not only clean up after yourself when going to the beach, but also contribute to an organized beach cleanup:

• Keep the ocean clean – By keeping the beaches clean, less trash is going to end up in the water, which will result in fewer contaminants that could endanger local sea life.
• Help the local economy – By helping to clean up the beaches, you help to maintain their natural splendor, which can help keep the beaches attractive. The more attractive the beach remains, the more likely tourists will continue to visit, thereby helping boost the local economy.

If you’re planning to enjoy the beaches this summer, then remember that July is Clean Beaches Month. Be sure to do your part by keeping the beaches clean or by joining a beach cleanup effort. For the latest summer-related news, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.