LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS JULY 5TH
In 2022, REEF supported the collection of over 79,000 pounds of trash from U.S. beaches in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation, as part of our commitment to the Better Beach Alliance. More than 8,800 volunteers gathered at 887 cleanups to make a difference for their local community and environment, and this year, we’re inviting you to join us from wherever you are. The immense amount of trash littering our beaches puts coastal and marine environments at risk, and the waste collected at these cleanups only represents a small portion of our plastic pollution crisis — but together, we can turn the tide.
Traditionally, July 5th is known as the “dirtiest beach day of the year” here in the United States, due to the overwhelming amount of litter left behind by beachgoers on the Fourth of July. This year, whether we are near or far from the beach, we all share and rely on our ocean, and each of us can take action to help tackle single-use plastic pollution. You can join REEF in our commitment by taking some simple, proactive steps to help keep our beaches clean this Fourth of July.
If you're heading to the beach this weekend:
- Pack it in, pack it out. Bring your reusables and leave disposable items at home, or be sure to pack them back out with you to avoid overfilled trash bins and beach litter.
- Leave it better than you found it. Check out Surfrider to find a beach cleanup near you.
Some ways you can take action from wherever you are:
- Audit your own single-use plastic footprint. Invest in a reusable water bottle you can bring with you everywhere you go and don’t buy plastic water bottles. Carry with you a set of reusable utensils and shopping bags.
- Go topless. If you don’t have a reusable coffee tumbler on hand, one way to still reduce your waste is by refusing a plastic lid. Take it one step further by refusing other unnecessary single-use plastics such as straws, stirrers, or utensils.
- Spread the word. Sharing simple habit shifts you’ve made with your friends, and family on social media can help inspire others to consider what small changes they can make to reduce their own plastic footprint. Small changes can add up to big impacts!
- Stay informed. Check out timely updates on the plastic pollution crisis on Surfrider's BLOG.
- Find additional suggestions for reducing plastic consumption HERE.