Monday, June 22, 2009

Green Tip of the Day

Clean Beaches

Stay healthy by choosing a beach that tests lower for bacteria like E. coli.

Proper disposal of chemicals and litter helps keep your beaches cleaner and animals healthier (plastic waste alone kills 1 million sea birds and 100,000 sea mammals on U.S. coasts each year).

Remember to put garbage in a bin where it won't escape and end up downstream in rivers and oceans, since some animals may mistake it for food.

Use eco-fertilizer and eco-pesticides on your garden and sweep rather than hose down your driveway to avoid sending runoff into storm drains and out to the ocean.

  • NRDC and Surfrider - these orgs test beaches for water quality each year - find a clean one near you.
  • Ocean Conservancy and Surfrider - volunteer a couple hours of your time to a beach cleanup; they'll provide all the gear you need.


The ocean garbage dump was a topic of conversation at the Soup Sunday table last night.