Public Army Attacks Beach Litter

Carolyn Munaco, a Hampton Bays artist and teacher, advocates for clean local beaches, often picking up litter, and she spreads awareness about pollution through her art, which sometimes is made of garbage collected during beach cleanups. She also promotes environmental events on social media, posting images of garbage and her artwork.

Ms. Munaco said she has been able to reach a wide audience and suggested that those who do not have a platform like hers “experiment with reusable items, pick up trash when you visit the beach, and then tell others; awareness is spread through conversation.” By reminding a friend to use a reusable water bottle or posting a picture of ocean pollution on social media, any individual can begin to make a difference within their community, she said.

The South Fork Natural History Museum is among local organizations working to combat ocean and beach pollution, with cleaner beaches a priority. SoFo often takes to social media to remind followers to attend educational events.  It displays images of marine animals and updates the public on its research.

One event that appears on SoFo’s Instagram is its monthly 8 a.m. beach cleanup. On average, participants collect between 300 and 500 pieces of trash during each cleanup, which is turned into a display of artwork to inspire others to help. “Most people want to do good, and when they see the display, they want to help pick up trash,” Eleni Nikolopoulos, a SoFo nature educator, said.

Litter on beaches on the East End is an obvious problem for communities that consider their beaches precious trademarks. According to Dell Cullum, an advocate for the environment, nature photographer, and member of the East Hampton Town Recycling and Litter Committee, beach cleaning can be rewarding. “I have never met someone who cleaned up litter and didn’t feel good afterwards; people often feel a strong sense of accomplishment,” Mr. Cullum said. 

Mr. Cullum captures images and makes videos of nature. He has published books of local photographs, and he produces a show, “Imagination Nature,” for social media platforms like YouTube. He has a simple solution to improve the cleanliness of local beaches: “It’s not rocket science, if you bring it in, you bring it out.”

Sylvia Overby, an East Hampton Town councilwoman who is liaison to the Recycling and Litter Committee, frequently picks up litter when she visits local beaches, most commonly balloons and straws. She notes that photos of marine animals, videos of polluted water, and infographics of litter have been shared thousands of times on social media. She also believes that one person who sets a good example has an impact. “Our beaches are precious and I hope that they are always clean, so I pick up what I can pick up. By picking up trash, I hope that others will mimic my behavior and help clean up, too,” she said.