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Dirty Work, Large Impact: The Power of Beach Cleanups



In this article, we have explored the world of beach clean-ups. You will also learn about the benefits of beach clean-up & how you can join a beach-up near your area for volunteering.


In today’s age of environmental crisis, it can be difficult to think about how you can enact real change. If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the scale of the climate crisis and think the time has passed for individual action, look no further than beach cleanups! You will learn about the beach clean-up benefits and the positive environmental impact you can bring by volunteering for beach cleanups.


Table of Contents:


What is a Beach Cleanup

Four Benefits of Volunteering for Beach Cleanups

Environmental Protection

Community Belonging

Direct Action

Personal Fulfillment

Environmental Impact of Beach Cleanups

Marine Life Protection

Ecosystem Protection & Restoration

Removal of Pollution

Human & Animal Health

Educating & Inspiring Action

How to Join Beach Cleanups

Self-Organisation

Local Groups

International Action

Conclusion


What is a Beach Cleanup?


Marine pollution is an urgent threat to oceanic and coastal ecosystems. Nearly 8 million units of human waste enter or marine waters daily, 90% of which are plastics. Beachside waste comes from a range of sources, from domestic refuse to industrial waste. Some of the most common sources are:

  • Organic waste, such as dry leaves and coconut shells;

  • Fishing nets, lines and other tackle;

  • Industrial waste, including chemical dumping and construction materials;

  • Litter dumped into the ocean through sewage outlets;

  • Household waste;

  • Waste from festivals or outdoor events.


While most of this waste gets carried out to sea, some of it washes back up on our beaches! This not only endangers human and animal health, it threatens vital ecosystems and turns pristine beaches into informal landfills.


Beach cleanup drives happen when people come together to clean the trash from their beaches. They can range from local groups to international programmes, a few dedicated volunteers to movements lakhs-strong!


Four Benefits to Volunteering for Beach Cleanups


Not sure if beach cleanups are the right way for you to get involved? Below are a few of the major perks to joining these wonderful movements:


Environmental Protection

Marine waste poses an existential threat to our oceanic and coastal ecosystems - taking part in beach cleanups gives you the opportunity to become part of the marine pollution solution.


When you remove human waste from the ecosystem, you are making a direct, positive contribution to the environment - your beaches will thank you!


Community Belonging

Most beach cleanup drives are built around a sense of community and shared love for a place. One of the most successful cleanup efforts was started by a Mumbaikar who simply wanted to make life better in a city that he loved.


When you sign up to a cleanup group, you’re joining a community of the environmentally impassioned who care deeply for the beaches they are cleaning.


Direct Action

Beach cleanups have the potential to inspire local governments and policymakers and encourage them to take action. They give you the opportunity to create a meaningful difference in your community and make your citizen voice heard!


If you are passionate about making change but feel overwhelmed or don’t know where to start, beach cleanups are an easy way to enact tangible change.


Personal Fulfillment

Studies show that volunteering imparts an increased sense of purpose, greater levels of happiness, improved mental wellbeing, greater self-confidence, and reduced stress. By taking part in cleanup drives, you’re not only benefiting your local beaches, you are taking care of yourself.


Environmental Impact of Beach Cleanups

Alongside personal benefits, beach cleanups can have a significant environmental impact!


While it is important to note that cleaning coastlines only addresses a symptom of mass consumption and poor waste management practices, there are numerous environmental benefits to keeping our beaches clean.

Marine Life Protection

Oceanic waste directly threatens marine life; a recent study reveals that nearly 60% of marine species are behaviourally predisposed to accidentally ingesting plastic and other human waste, most of which are harmful to their health.


Perhaps the most famous example of this are sea turtles. All seven species are documented to mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, their natural source of food. When they invest plastics, they can rupture internal organs or cause digestive blockages, causing the turtles to slowly starve.


Removing even small amounts of plastic waste from our oceans and shorelines is a significant step towards protecting the ocean’s fauna.

Ecosystem Protection & Restoration

Beaches are not only for people! Intertidal ecosystems are vital to our planet - they store carbon, provide safe havens for larger oceanic species, decompose organic waste and filter oceanic water.


Removing trash is one of the most important things we can do to protect these fragile ecosystems!


Removal of Pollution

Just as litter washes up on beaches, it can be carried back to sea by the tide. Beach cleanups remove waste from the ecosystem before it can be cycled back into the ocean, protecting oceanic, tidal and beach environments.

Human & Animal Health

Beachside waste poses a threat to both marine and human health. Especially in waters that are heavily fished, such as those off the coast of Mumbai, pollutant-heavy water contaminates our food and affects how safe it is to consume.


In both humans and marine animals, this can lead to cancer among a range of other health complications.


Educating & Inspiring Action

Although beach cleanups do not address the root cause of beachside waste – overconsumption and poor waste management practices – they can inspire your local government to take action. Your citizen voice is powerful, and cleanups give you a megaphone that can inform, engage, and inspire policymakers.


Some beach cleanups, moreover, help local policymakers collect data on the types and quantities of waste washed up on the beach. This can help officials identify common sources of waste and take action to stem their flow.


Beach cleanup drives can also be a huge opportunity to educate volunteers on the importance of preserving marine life!


How to Join Beach Cleanups


Self-Organisation

Many beach cleanups are formed by citizens who care about the wellbeing of their local beaches, starting as informal drives that eventually grow into activist movements and community movements.


However, there are a number of barriers to starting a group of your own:

Logistical challenges, including transporting volunteers, coordinating cleanups, and arranging first aid;

Arranging waste management can be difficult and expensive;

A large financial and time demands require a strong commitment;

Building a volunteer network can be difficult and time-consuming;

Without sufficient expertise, you risk harming local ecosystems..


That said, if you are committed and willing to deal with the challenges of starting a movement from scratch, they can be a wonderful opportunity for you to have a meaningful impact on our environment.

Local Groups

If there’s a local beach that needs cleaning, chances are there’s already a group working to clean it! Researching local groups and inquiring about their volunteer programmes is one of the best ways to get involved - most groups have an online or social media presence and warmly welcome volunteers.


Greenmyna regularly organises beach cleanups with Mumbai-based cleanup drives, such as Carter Cleanup or United Way Mumbai. Here are some of our favourites:


International Action

One of the world’s largest beach cleanups is hosted by the Oceanic Conservancy every September; in the past, they have topped 10 lakh volunteers globally!


Taking part in international cleanup days gives you the opportunity to network with local environmentalists, discover groups in your area, and discover a love for beach cleanup drives.


Conclusion

Beach cleanup drives are an important and accessible way for people to make a difference in their community. They have numerous benefits, both for the environment and for volunteers, and they can help you find a like-minded community of people who care about our planet!


Greenmyna has an extensive network of beach cleanup groups through Mumbai, and they can help connect you with the right cleanup drive. Contact us to learn more!


FAQ


How can I volunteer for a beach cleanup?

Research beach cleanup groups in your area and inquire about their volunteer programmes. Many groups advertise their cleanups online and on social media and need dedicated volunteers!


What is the world’s largest beach cleanup drive?

Each year, the Ocean Conservancy hosts an international beach cleanup that encourages their global network community movements to come together and clean their beaches. Topping nearly 10 lakh volunteers, this is largely considered one of the world’s largest beach cleaning drives!


How do beach cleanups help the environment?

Beach cleanup drives remove waste from coastal ecosystems, educate your community, and inspire local governments to take direct action.


What is a beach cleanup?

A beach cleanup is any movement that helps clean trash off their local beaches.


What are the objectives of a beach cleaning drive?

The objectives of a beach cleaning drive are to remove plastic from shorelines, educate volunteers and inspire climate policy.


What happens in a clean up drive?

At cleanup drives, volunteers help collect waste from an area; they may also help with waste segregation and disposal. Cleanup drives are often used to demonstrate the importance of our ecosystems and to educate volunteers on environmentalist practices.


What is the purpose of the coastal clean up?

Coastal cleanups remove human waste from a beachside environment. They usually rely on volunteer assistance and are used as a platform to educate community members on sustainability practices.


What are the duties of a beach cleaner?

A beach cleaner is responsible for picking up trash from a beach - this can include human litter, construction materials, or organic waste.


What is a cleanliness drive?

A cleanliness drive is any movement to remove human litter from a place, serving also to educate volunteers on sustainable living and best environmental practices.

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