Coastal Cleanup - Why Should You?
Written by MomsTown Mom Andrea Krollman

The picture is real.  Each year, our oceans are filling up with trash at an alarming rate, specifically with plastic waste.  Sea creatures are mistaking it for food.  For the 1st time,   Killer whales are presenting with breast cancer because of their plastic consumption.  Plastic waste is not biodegradable and will last forever in the ocean.  There is a patch of garbage in the Pacific Ocean that is estimated to be about twice the size of Texas!   Much of the garbage that enters our oceans, starts out as litter along our coastal and inland waterways, and litter on the street that washes into storm drains.  It is changing the natural balance of the ecosystem.

I first learned about the enormity of the plastic problem when I was watching Oprah's Earth Day special this past spring.  Since then, my awareness of my own plastic usage has heightened.  I have made some changes like using reusable shopping bags and produce bags, reusable snack and sandwich bags for my kids to replace ziplocs, reusable stainless steel water bottles,  buying bars of soap instead of liquid soap in plastic bottles.

Another thing I have started doing which has become an enjoyable routine, is I take a walk down to the beach a few times a week.  Sometimes with my son and sometimes alone. As I walk,  I gather trash along the way and when I get to the beach I comb the beach for debris.  As I do this I focus on caring for the Earth, like I do my children, rather than getting angry at the people who were so careless with their trash.  My 4 year old loves being an "Earth Helper" and he never walks past a piece of trash on the street without bringing it to a garbage can!

So, I encourage you to do what you can to make changes in your life to help restore the delicate balance of our ecosystem.  I truly believe that no act is too small.

Register for this Saturday's clean up. And join me in making everyday a "Coastal Cleanup" day!

Thank You!
Andrea

Here are some websites with alternatives to plastic products for you and your family:

www.snacktaxi.com (the cutest snack/sandwich bags!)
www.ecobags.com (check out the produce bags)
www.lifewithoutplastic.com (love the kids' dish sets!)