Organize a Clean Up
Nurdles are tiny resin plastics that are melted together to form plastic products.
Organizing a beach or park clean up is a great way to get outside, have fun with friends, and help your community and our ocean. You can commit to picking up trash every time you visit a park or beach, but it can be extra fun to create a Blue Team event with your class, family, neighborhood, or friends.
**Depending on how many people are participating in your clean up, you may need to notify local city, park, or waste management services. When we run larger events we have extra recycling and rubbish bins available.
Planning the event
Pick a safe location. Beaches and parks are almost always in need of clean up.
Ask an adult to supervise the event.
Plan where you will dispose of trash. If it’s a small amount, are there city garbage cans nearby? If you plan to pick up lots of trash, contact the city or waste management services to find out how you can dispose of the waste. Some waste management services might pick the trash up from you.
Create a plan for sorting recyclable items. Buddy teams could carry two bags--one for recycling and the other for trash. Expect more trash than recycling, because only appropriate and clean objects can be recycled. When in doubt: throw it out! Refer to your city’s recycling standards posted online. (See recycling for the City of Edmonds)
Bring garbage bags, disposable gloves, and hand sanitizer. Safety is the most important thing! If you find any hazardous materials (anything sharp like needles or contaminated), have the adult supervisor help pick it up. If appropriate you might need to call city services.
Pack a first aid kit.
Inform your friends to bring reusable water bottles, snacks, sunscreen, hats, and appropriate shoes (close toe and waterproof).
If possible, create a plan to weigh your trash. This is a great way to feel accomplished and to quantify how much trash ends up in nature. A waste management service can do this for you, or you can bring a scale from home, such as those for luggage.
Take lots of pictures! Send them to your local newspaper, the city, your school, and us! Use #OurOceanAndYou and #PlanetOcean
