Nearshore waves tend to push marine litter landward where it becomes stranded as high tide recedes. Beaches are also popular recreation areas and users often leave their trash behind. Beaches, therefore, are ideal places to concentrate cleanup efforts. Citizens generally feel strongly about keeping their public beaches attractive and free of litter. As a result, a well-publicized cleanup drive can often attract large numbers of citizen volunteers.
Cleanups serve three major functions.
First, they reduce the amount of litter on the beaches in an immediate and visible wayan aspect most gratifying to the volunteers. Second, with careful planning, volunteers can document the types, quantities, and possible sources of beach debris. Third, the cleanup teaches the public about the prob lems of marine debris and how citizens can help. Although getting a few people onto the local beach to pick up some trash may seem like an easy task, a successful cleanup can involve hundreds of people and demand months of organization, recruitment, and planning. This booklet also suggests innovative means of funding and publicizing such an effort.