Summer is here, and people are heading to picnics, parties, pools, parks and beaches. In honor of National Beach Week (July 1 to 7), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reminds Americans to put trash and recyclable materials in their proper place to help protect oceans and coasts from marine debris.
The EPA recommends five simple actions that can prevent trash from becoming marine debris:
• Never put anything down a storm drain;
• Use recyclable bags instead of disposable bags;
• Choose products with less packaging when possible;
• Replace disposable items with reusable ones such as bottles, plates and cups; and
• Recycle. Keep recyclables and trash in covered and secured containers.
When trash is not properly thrown away or recycled, the agency has noted, it can wash down storm drains or get blown into streams, rivers and oceans, becoming marine debris. Marine debris, including plastic grocery bags and bottles, ropes, soda rings and fishing line, can threaten public safety, hurt the economy with costly cleanups and deterred tourism and harm or kill marine life.
