January 2019 Beach Trash Results

January was a rainy month, good we need it, but managed to get out and pick up some beach trash. Lost data on 5 days (60 pounds) and did not got out for 10 days. The total pieces not including the lost data was 4028 pieces or an average of 252 pieces of beach litter per day.

Plastic continues to dominate the beach litter. If you really examine it the only items that do not have plastic are glass bottles and a few paper plates. (not itemized) and maybe some textiles.

Illegal fires continue on despite the weather and it was cold.. of course leaving behind their trash. In this case, wood, plastic packaging, beer bottles and lighter fluid. Averaging 2 illegal fires a day in South Mission Beach. The problem is the trash left behind, the broken glass and the wood that is washed away to harm both humans and animals.

As to textiles: over 20 socks, 4 hats, 10 blankets, 1 sheet, 8 towels and about 20 pieces of assorted clothing (including underwear) with about 10 pair of shoes. Unfortunately, most of the blankest were so trashed I ended up putting them in the trash can. It doesn’t really pay to wash them. All socks are thrown away.

Toys continue to wash up.. in fact, I donated over 800 beach toys and 25 towels to the Human Society. 70+ shoes donated to Goodwill who takes both pairs and singles. 5000 plastic bottle caps were given to a school for an art project. Gave a neighbor 10 dog toys, gave another neighbor 6 sweatshirts and pants and then my brother came over and took off with 4 articles of clothing and a pair of shoes.

Drinkers seem to be the ones who trash the beach the most and leave behind their ‘mark’ for all to pick up.

Right after one storm with high waves picked up 158 plastic bottle caps and over 100 toys.

Electronic Devices: 1 flash drive, 1 Cell phone and 2 wallets. Cell phone was donated to Goodwill, although the owner eventually did get ahold of me. Both wallets were returned successfully. Unfortunately one had been already rifled but the other caught it in time before it was found.

Another beach-cleaning friend of mind found this tablet before me! He collects the yellow balls.

In January of 2018, I picked up 5722 items. But, my focus was on one area and I picked up a parking lot and about 2 blocks of beach. The Belmont Park parking lot is a major party area and if good weather, it can be an all out rave. This year, I have not picked up the parking lot, because another woman, Bonnie does it.

We continue with storms and rain through San Diego, much needed! There it is, the beach trash report for January 2019.