It’s no secret that Alabama is home to some of the most beautiful beaches. As we make our way to the state’s pristine, white-sand shores, we must all do our part to keep it clean! With your help, we can keep our beaches beautiful for generations to come!
It is important to be mindful of our beaches and remember that they are home to many species of wildlife and coastal vegetation. Because many sea organisms live on sea grasses—which also help preserve the dune systems by protecting them against coastal erosion—removing or destroying them can harm a variety of wildlife.
Here are a few ways you can ensure you’re doing your part to keep your favorite beaches clean and clear and enjoyable for your annual vacation.
Bring a Trash Bag
One of the easiest things to prevent is trash being left on the beach. There are trash cans and recycling bins located all along the public beaches. By bringing a bag for your compostables and trash, you’re more likely to throw it in the bins located along the beach and less likely to set it aside and forget about it when it’s time to go home. Even recycling small items can end up making a big difference!
Leave Only Footprints FB Page
You’re often likely to stumble upon a wrapper or two when walking on the beach. This may seem like a no-brainer, but many people choose to ignore trash and pass up the opportunity to improve the environment. Helping out when you see trash scattered about is a great way for you to keep the area clean that you love hanging out at.
Items that can be recycled include: aluminum cans, cardboards, magazines, paper products, plastic jugs, tin cans
Items that belong in the trash bins include: Aerosol cans, aluminum foil, egg cartons, food waste, glass, juice boxes, pizza boxes, and plastic bags.
Spread the Word
Keeping the beaches clean starts with you! Communicating positive messages about keeping our beaches clean to friends and family is a great way to get the word out to the community!
Leave Only Footprints FB Page
The Leave only Footprints campaign is active on all social media platforms, and you can help spread the word by simply liking their Facebook page and following them on Twitter and Instagram!
Keep the momentum going by encouraging and educating those around you and inspiring them to do the same. Talking to your family and friends will go a long way toward keeping the beaches pristine and enjoyable for locals and visitors alike.
Feed Yourself, Not the Birds
Many of us have all done it at some point in our lives—throwing leftover chip crumbs to the seagulls. While it may seem like an innocent childhood pleasure, sharing even the tiniest amount of food with birds attracts more to the scene, and many times leftover snacks just end up in the sand.
Leave Only Footprints FB Page
Even more importantly, when birds get accustomed to human food, they become more vulnerable to eating trash and other items they mistake for food. Let them find their own food! It alters their natural feeding and migrating patterns, as well as their willingness to find food independently.
So, next time you’re at the beach, enjoy the birds from a distance, and keep the snacks to yourself!
Adhere to Important Beach Regulations
Leave Only Footprints FB Page
In addition to picking up your trash before leaving the beaches, spreading the word about the importance of leaving only footprints, and not feeding local birds and wildlife, other key steps you can take to help support the Leave Only Footprints movement include:
Not bringing the following prohibited items to the beach: glass containers, metal shovels, tents, fireworks, pets, and vehicles.
Keeping off the dunes! Staying off the dunes will help to preserve the dune system and the habitat it provides. Use beach walkovers and boardwalks where they are provided.
Heeding the beach flag system. Double red flags means the water is closed.
Removing all gear and equipment you brought with you when leaving the beaches. Any structures or equipment left on the beach an hour after sunset will be removed and disposed of by beach patrol.
Visit CleanIsland.org to learn more ways you can be a good steward of our beautiful beaches and help keep them clean and enjoyable year after year.