The Top Beach Litterers and Trashers in San Diego Are Under 40 Years Old

Years ago America the Beautiful did a study on cost of littering which included how much taxpayer monies were spent cleaning up trash, the types of trash and in some cases who litters. The reality is everyone litters at some point, but I question is littering generational?  I say yes at least for littering on my beach. The people that litter the most on my little stretch of the beach are those 40 years old and younger. which makes them Millennials… not the homeless as my neighbors like to think.

This comes from evaluating the last year my 1 mile stretch of beach. This is beach litter as opposed to marine debris, which is washed up…

You tell me… what age group do you think these pieces of litter belong to?

The 50 to 70 Toys a day during the summer or the 5000 toys a year that I pick…Millennial’s Kids, maybe a grandpa or a grandma in there, but I can actually go out to the beach now and predict what toys will be left on the beach.

5-10 Boogie Boards lying on the beach... came from.. Millennial’s kids. I have never seen a homeless person surf a wave. Most adults are too busy with their smart phones to even go in the water. (Just kidding, but not) They might use a boogie board that has been left on the beach to sleep on.

3-7 Dirty Diapers a day… Millennial’s Kids… no other option.. us baby boomer might be grandparents.. but the likihood of that many grandparents babysitting and changing diapers daily on the beach.. not happening..

3-5 Hotel Towels a Day… Not that I want to prejudge.. but who do you think stays in Holiday Inns, Marriotts, Hiltons, Hyatts and other hotels.. plus  add in other towels. Most of these towels are used for sunbathing… and who sun-bathes?.. Not homeless.. not boomers.. the under 40 crowd who is not dealing with wrinkles and skin cancers!

The last 3 days… 8 towels and 1 comforter… on the beach in front of an illegal fire.  

3-5 Beach Chairs- Canopies a day... who is buying these? Now, I can see some boomer getting tired at the end of the day and to fold up a canopy.. is just too exhausting.. so why not just leave it lying in the middle of the boardwalk… Screw Scooters..

3-7 Illegal Fires on the beach daily during the summer..From what I have seen in the early am.. the illegal fires seem to be lit and littered by the 20-30 year olds, who are doing an all nighter on the beach.. sometimes a couple. Us Baby Boomers like the comfort of our own bed and our all-nighters are behind us. The Homeless will re-lit or sleep by an already lit fire, but they do not spend the money to buy wood or kerosene. Nor are they buying graham crackers and chocolate for s’mores. Nor are they buying craft beer. They might be drinking the leftover booze, because there is plenty of Hennessey, Jamesons and Tequila on the beach that can be partaken of.

And Red Solo cups.. just scream Toga Party…. Who drinks water from a Red Solo Cup?

10 Glass Craft Beer bottles on the beach…

10 items of clothes daily found on the beach…Stores such as Urban Outfitters, Target, Abercrombie and Fitch, Forever 21, Volcom, American Eagle, Hollisters.. What age group buys these brands? Normally they are pretty clean, except for the sand.

3-5 Bubble Topped Starbucks drinks a day……. Granted these could be any age but according to the Starbuck demographic, these drinkers are Millennials. Starbuck’s packaging including cup, straw and lids along with napkins and bags are the top non-alcoholic drink on the beach. Other drinks from Jack In the Box, Burger King and MacDonalds and assorted other fast food places. Not only that, most homeless with a few exceptions do not hang out in the parking lots.

• 49% of the revenue that Starbucks receives every year comes from customers in the 25-40 age demographic.
• 9% of Starbuck’s revenues are from people over 4o

5-10 Ice Creams per day either by the cone or the cup… Who do you think these are from?

10 shoes per day from Reef, Rainbow, Havianna’s and more.. are not from homeless.

3 ‘Dog’ Feces per day.. 

2-3 Tennis balls a day…

Balloon fragments These can be from sources miles away, but.. who

3-5 Electronic parts per week Ear buds, connectors, cords, cell phones, Chargers, MiFI’s and more. 

3-5 Marijuana containers or vaping parts per week

3 Reusable Bottles per week, SeaWorld bottles, The Zoo bottles, Belmont Park Bottles, plus all the other bottles

And I pick up the styrofoam and the food wrapping. Most of the styrofoam is from broken boogie boards, broken styrofoam containers and styrofoam cups. The Food Wrapping is is all over the place from kids juice cartons (Millennials) to fast food to junk food.

In conclusion Mission Beach might be somewhat of an exception as we have a high rental history, a major tourist destination (Belmont Park, Zoo and SeaWorld) but the trash all points to an under 40 crowd. That is very, very sad.. this millennials who feel entitled, who seem to feel that someone else should pick up their trash… These are the ones who have grown up with fast fashion (disposable)

Despite all the ‘research’ that says Millennials are leading the way.. I don’t see it… They might buy organic. and leave it one the beach. They might use a reusable bag and put it in the trash can (about 50 a year) they might. They might be leading the Zero Waste movement…. I don’t see it. ..I don’t see the Plastic Free movement, don’t see the Plogging Movement. I don’t see the actual products being used as supporting ‘sustainable’ companies. Coke, LaCroix being the top beverage brands and over 100 plastic bottled water a day picked up.. leaving behind coffee cup, stirrers and lids.. I don’t see it and picking up after yourself is the easiest way to go Green.

I question are these the environmental leaders of the future?