Trash on the Beach

[StPetePaulie]

So everyone who metal detects on popular beaches and some not so popular beaches is bound to find loads of trash. We all know this. Beer bottle caps (or drinking patches as I like to call them), soda can pull tabs, soda CANS, snack lids, vape cigarettes...and on and on. Recently, as in this morning, as I was stuffing my trash pouch with yet another aluminum can, a new thought occurred to me. I've been really hard on beach goers, in my head, thinking of them as littering bugs with no regard for the natural beauty of the beach but then I was thinking, I wonder if they are not really trashy at all. I wonder if they have every intention of taking their trash to the proper receptacles but then somewhere along the way, they lose it. Maybe it falls out of their pocket or slips out of the bag of trash they are carrying or maybe they take a tumble and that can that was in their hand is now somewhere where they can't locate it. I always assume beach goers only lose the good stuff...the change...the jewelry...the sunglasses and cell phones....but maybe it's the same with the trash too. If so, it would go a long way in restoring my faith in my fellow human beings. And that's a nice thought. :o)

 

[DbblTap]

So everyone who metal detects on popular beaches and some not so popular beaches is bound to find loads of trash. We all know this. Beer bottle caps (or drinking patches as I like to call them), soda can pull tabs, soda CANS, snack lids, vape cigarettes...and on and on. Recently, as in this morning, as I was stuffing my trash pouch with yet another aluminum can, a new thought occurred to me. I've been really hard on beach goers, in my head, thinking of them as littering bugs with no regard for the natural beauty of the beach but then I was thinking, I wonder if they are not really trashy at all. I wonder if they have every intention of taking their trash to the proper receptacles but then somewhere along the way, they lose it. Maybe it falls out of their pocket or slips out of the bag of trash they are carrying or maybe they take a tumble and that can that was in their hand is now somewhere where they can't locate it. I always assume beach goers only lose the good stuff...the change...the jewelry...the sunglasses and cell phones....but maybe it's the same with the trash too. If so, it would go a long way in restoring my faith in my fellow human beings. And that's a nice thought. :o)

People think it's cool to trash the beach. Who is anybody to tell them to get off their lazy backside and walk over to a trash can maybe 20 feet away to do the right thing?
I clean the beach and do it everytime I go MD on the beach. I have watched people just dig a hole and burry trash. If you say something to them it's fighting words. Best to video them doing it then call the police and show them the video. Do the same for people doing drugs also.

GLHH

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[dewcon]

Well show up as the sun comes up on a busy Fl beach before the walkers or beach machine cleans it. No they are exactly who you think they are. They just are inconsiderate slobs.... not all some put it in bags or piles before they leave it... others bury it. I’m not sure why it’s beneath them to carry out their trash or to the containers. My hope is Karma make them depositors lol

 

[DbblTap]

My number one rule is to never MD barefoot on any beach!

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[Compass]

Welcome to the forum Paulie! Interesting topic for your first post. I'm sure that some beach littering is accidental but, unfortunately, I know that the vast majority of it is intentional- just like the trash along the sides of our roadways.
I suppose the only "good" thing about trash is that if there wasn't any, there would probably be a lot more people metal detecting out there.

 

[StPetePaulie]

That's true Compass. Also, for me the bottle tops...especially the old crusty ones are a good indicator that no one has been digging up any gold signals in that particular area. So I don't mind digging them.

 

[StPetePaulie]

Well show up as the sun comes up on a busy Fl beach before the walkers or beach machine cleans it. No they are exactly who you think they are. They just are inconsiderate slobs.... not all some put it in bags or piles before they leave it... others bury it. I’m not sure why it’s beneath them to carry out their trash or to the containers. My hope is Karma make them depositors lol

I do get there early and you're right. I don't understand it either. I've been seeing a lot of beer bottoms lately....like the bottom and the tops are cut off of the can. This morning especially. I'm pretty new to these Florida beaches but maybe someone can explain that one to me.

 

[StPetePaulie]

Welcome to the forum Paulie! Interesting topic for your first post. I'm sure that some beach littering is accidental but, unfortunately, I know that the vast majority of it is intentional- just like the trash along the sides of our roadways.
I suppose the only "good" thing about trash is that if there wasn't any, there would probably be a lot more people metal detecting out there.

Thanks Compass. I've been trying to think of something to post since I haven't really found any spectacular finds. I'm also thinking of posting for advice on how to get over the fear of underwater things and get out there in the surf. I love the beaches and the waves and the winds but I really don't have much love for some of the things under the waves....but....that's another post.

 

[StPetePaulie]

My number one rule is to never MD barefoot on any beach!

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That's probably one of the more brilliant pieces of advice to give a person. After seeing what washes up onto the beach after high tide, I'm pretty certain I'll never go into the water again without my water shoes on......

 

[Compass]

Thanks Compass. I've been trying to think of something to post since I haven't really found any spectacular finds. I'm also thinking of posting for advice on how to get over the fear of underwater things and get out there in the surf. I love the beaches and the waves and the winds but I really don't have much love for some of the things under the waves....but....that's another post.

If you hunt the beach regularly and do your "homework" it's just a matter of time until you find some nice jewelry. As far as "things" (creatures?) under the waves go your local hunters can probably chime in. I'm mostly a wet-sand and shallow surf hunter so sting rays are my only real concern.

 

[georgeinsc]

I suspect that at least 99 percent of the trash left on the beach is intentional When they bury 36 beer cans they are hiding the evidence that they had alcohol on a No Alcohol beach. I have found every item of clothing that one could think of. After a three day weekend it takes volunteers who pick up the trash hours to get it off the beach People are Slobs. On one of the local beaches there are recycle and trash cans on the beach at every entrance to the beach. The slobs are too lazy to carry their trash to the cans as they exit the breach.

 

[StPetePaulie]

If you hunt the beach regularly and do your "homework" it's just a matter of time until you find some nice jewelry. As far as "things" (creatures?) under the waves go your local hunters can probably chime in. I'm mostly a wet-sand and shallow surf hunter so sting rays are my only real concern.

Well sting rays are pretty concerning ! I have found a couple of pieces of jewelry over the last couple of weeks but nothing spectacular. I'm getting my exercise and meeting some good beach people....the people that pick up trash, the lady that picks up left clothes for "recycling"?? A woman did give me a piece of paper with her phone number on it the other day and asked me to please call her..........if I happened to find her cell phone. I had fun telling that story to my wife. Anyways, I'm going every morning for a couple of hours before work and being patient.....and studying the people patterns on this beach....and being so thankful that I live 20 minutes from the beaches...so..it's all good. I am going to join the metal detecting club as soon as they have another meeting...I neeeeeed weird MD folks like me in my life !

 

[StPetePaulie]

I suspect that at least 99 percent of the trash left on the beach is intentional When they bury 36 beer cans they are hiding the evidence that they had alcohol on a No Alcohol beach. I have found every item of clothing that one could think of. After a three day weekend it takes volunteers who pick up the trash hours to get it off the beach People are Slobs. On one of the local beaches there are recycle and trash cans on the beach at every entrance to the beach. The slobs are too lazy to carry their trash to the cans as they exit the breach.

I suspect you're right George. And you know someone has to work at taking the pull tab off of a soda can so that they can throw it in the sand.....they don't just fall off....There are some pretty good people out there cleaning the trash off the beach in the mornings.....I'm in charge of picking up the buried trash. That's my skill that I bring to the effort.

 

[DbblTap]

I suspect that at least 99 percent of the trash left on the beach is intentional When they bury 36 beer cans they are hiding the evidence that they had alcohol on a No Alcohol beach. I have found every item of clothing that one could think of. After a three day weekend it takes volunteers who pick up the trash hours to get it off the beach People are Slobs. On one of the local beaches there are recycle and trash cans on the beach at every entrance to the beach. The slobs are too lazy to carry their trash to the cans as they exit the breach.

Correct!

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[StPetePaulie]

I suspect that at least 99 percent of the trash left on the beach is intentional When they bury 36 beer cans they are hiding the evidence that they had alcohol on a No Alcohol beach. I have found every item of clothing that one could think of. After a three day weekend it takes volunteers who pick up the trash hours to get it off the beach People are Slobs. On one of the local beaches there are recycle and trash cans on the beach at every entrance to the beach. The slobs are too lazy to carry their trash to the cans as they exit the breach.

That brings up another question I have, George. My little side pouch for trash gets filled up pretty quick. Do you just make multiple trips to the trash cans or do you carry a trash bag or have a good size pouch that you use ?

 

[KOB]

Wear a backpack and load that up too !

 

[StPetePaulie]

Wear a backpack and load that up too !

that's a good idea KOB. I will try that tomorrow morning.

 

[KOB]

that's a good idea KOB. I will try that tomorrow morning.

I was being sarcastic. Don't do that. I take all the small trash out in my pouch , which is large. Especially the dangerous stuff : rusty screws , nails , blades , hooks , etc. And bottlecaps , tabs , wire and the like. But do I take everything out ? Hell no ! It's not my job to be the garbage man for inconsiderate people. That's what they have a guy on a beach king at 3am for. And if he can't get it all , I can't either. It would be never ending. But I do my part. Ya think I can get every tent stake ? Hell no.... Every gold ring ? Hell yes....they are small.....

 

[StPetePaulie]

I was being sarcastic. Don't do that. I take all the small trash out in my pouch , which is large. Especially the dangerous stuff : rusty screws , nails , blades , hooks , etc. And bottlecaps , tabs , wire and the like. But do I take everything out ? Hell no ! It's not my job to be the garbage man for inconsiderate people. That's what they have a guy on a beach king at 3am for. And if he can't get it all , I can't either. It would be never ending. But I do my part. Ya think I can get every tent stake ? Hell no.... Every gold ring ? Hell yes....they are small.....

Well S*&t KOB, I was going to actually try it ! I mean it sounded different and I don't guess I've seen anyone doing that but then again, you had me convinced! Maybe I will just look into getting a larger pouch....sounds like that's a good idea....not as good as a backpack....but still good....lol.

 

[melbajoe]

as far as I'm concerned people are basically slobs if they are somewhere when on "vacation'. As someone already said you have to work to take a pull tab off a can and toss it, not to mention digging a hole 2-3 feet deep to bury your empty beer cans. disgusting is the only word