Every day 8 million pieces of litter enter the sea. This includes plastic bags, metal cans, fishing nets, and cigarettes. Beach clean-ups are essential in preventing human waste from reaching the ocean and causing more damage to our environment. These are just 5 of the reasons they are so important. 

• Beaches in the ecosystem
• Saving marine animals
• A thriving economy 
• Limit illness 
• A safer environment 

Beaches in the ecosystem 

Beaches are an integral part of our ecosystem. They provide a home for thousands of marine species, some of which can’t be seen by the naked eye. These tiny organisms are essential in the process of seawater filtration and nutrient recycling, which gives us fresh water to drink. In addition to this, many marine creatures, such as sea turtles, use beaches to nest and lay eggs. If beaches continue to be polluted, these species will have no space to nest, leading to their extinction, and a drastic shift in the food chain. 

Saving marine animals 

8.3 million tonnes of plastic is discarded in the ocean every year, killing 1 million marine animals. Beach clean-ups lower the chances of species coming into contact with and being harmed by waste left on the beach. What may seem like only a plastic bottle, could cause serious harm to marine life, so it’s best to pick it up and eliminate the risk. 

A thriving economy 

Beaches attract millions of tourists to coastal locations, encouraging them to explore not only the beach but the local attractions. Globally, tourism makes up for 1 in 4 jobs, making it a financially viable industry we must continue growing. If our beaches are overly polluted, tourists won’t be interested in visiting coastal areas and spending money on local businesses, resulting in global job losses.

Limit illness

The pollution we put into the ocean can end up making us sick. The average seafood eater will consume 11,000 fragments of plastic every year, the chemicals of which can make you incredibly ill. Picking up as much plastic as possible from our beaches will prevent it from polluting the waters and the marine life we may end up eating, lessening our chances of becoming ill. 

A safer environment 

Polluted beaches filled with discarded litter are not only damaging to the ecosystem but are also incredibly dangerous for visitors. Broken glass, plastic bags, and cigarette butts can cause serious harm to anyone strolling down the beach who may happen to accidentally step on them. The risk of damage increases for children who are more likely to pick up pieces of rubbish and mistake them for toys or ingestible items. It’s simply safer in all manners to pick up litter as soon as you see it. 

Whilst you help clean up your local beach, we will help clean up your laundry pile. Book your Laundryheap order now by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app. If you are residing in Dallas, use the code TRY25US to get 25% off of your first Laundryheap order.