Finally! The days are now getting longer and warmer. It’s now time to dust off those sandals, grab your swimmers, and head out to the coast. We might be a little biased here at GreenSeas Trust, but we believe our oceans are one of our planet’s true marvels and we love visiting the seaside ourselves.

It’s important to remember however, that while it’s fun to enjoy a swim or a picnic on the shore, our sea is also home to an estimated 50-80% of life on earth. Also, through its regulation of climate and the atmosphere, it supports nearly all life on land to!

For this reason, we must try to minimise our negative impact on the environment and beaches which is more severe than most people realise…

So what can we do as individuals to ensure, this season we visit the seaside as a champions for improving our seas? Well, below are some suggestions about how to be eco-friendly visitor to our coasts.

“Leave No Trace”  

You may have heard this phrase before. But what does it mean? Well simply put, to make sure everything you bring is either suitably disposed of reponsibly or taken home with you, giving the effect you were never there at all. This is crucial, as waste in our oceans is reaching a critical level, so much so, several of our oceans are now home to enormous country-sized floating garbage patches. Much of this waste reaches the sea indirectly from the land. Leaving rubbish on the shore or close it, only increases the risk of it ending up in the oceans through natural processes like the tides or wind. Once out there, litter is ingested by animals. This slowly kills them or else, it releases harmful chemicals into the water as it breaks down.

Of course, the best way to leave no trace and minimise accidental litter or forgetting something behind, is to not bring it in the first place!

There are some really easy ways to do this. When bringing food to the seaside for a snack or a picnic, try to use re-usable containers and cutlery and avoid taking single use-plastic packaging. This includes using items like re-usable cups and bottles especially, if you are purchasing a drink close to the shore. These disposable plastics are some of the most common forms of marine waste, which keep  breaking down into ever increasing smaller pieces of micro and nano plastics.

Plastic recreational items, like beach games and inflatables can also contribute to pollution when improperly disposed of. Choosing ones made from more durable and sustainable materials could not only last you longer, but will pose less of a threat to the environment. Some beaches also have re-using receptacles for buckets and spades, which is a great way to enjoy the day and pass on these toys for someone else to use.

Bin it sensibly or take it with you!

If you do end up with some waste on your trip to the coast, then of course, the next best thing is to dispose of it sensibly. Popular destinations usually have bins nearby. In summer, these bins can fill up quickly. Putting rubbish in an overflowing bin puts it at risk of falling out. It allows it to join the rest of the waste that ends up in the sea. Similarly, leaving it adjacent to the bin creates the same problem. It encourages others to do the same, creating a concentration of rubbish outside of the bin which can easily disperse.

Another thing to consider when binning your rubbish is – can it be recycled?  While convenient to dispose of a plastic bottle in the nearest bin, it is far better to recycle it and reduce landfill waste. Hanging onto it until you find a recycling bin, like our BinsForGreenSeas, now dotted around the UK coast, will make positive a change to our climate and marine environment.

Cigarette Butts & Vapes 

Last but not least, don’t forget cigarette butts are made out of cellulose acetate fibres (a plastic). If you do smoke or vape, take along a pocket ashtray or tin. By binning your butts, you stop adding to the 4.5 trillion tobacco filters estimated to be already in the sea.

Enjoy the summer!