What We Are Doing

Here are some of the things Island County Beach Watchers
are doing to reduce the negative impacts of plastics.

• Just say NO to plastic bags - it's easy.

  We've done the research to find an eco-friendly reusable bag to replace one-time plastic bags.

• Help others learn the issues

  To help educate others, we’ve put together a "travelling show kit" that consists of a display board with photos of "trash", birds entangled and birds who’ve died by ingesting plastic. We augment that with our Problem with Plastics Brochure.

  The kit is used at events, fairs, local club meetings, K-12 classrooms, church groups, marinas, and community beach organizations.

• Let’s face it, plastic IS a convenient commodity

  BUT we don't need to rely on it for every occasion. Our Beach Watcher events are almost entirely plastics free. We bring our own mugs, dishes and cutlery from home. It’s a whole new way of thinking, and you can get into the habit pretty easily.

  We've extended that mind set to larger, more public gatherings. At our Sound Waters "one-day university for all" held annually the first Saturday in February:

  • we ask attendees to bring their own cup/water container and provide compostable cups for those whoe don't
  • we've eliminated plastic water bottles
  • the food vendors use biodegradable serving containters and tableware, and we work with them to minimize the packaging around the food.
  • after the event, the biodegradable tableware and scraps get composted.

  This is quite an achievement as attendance is upward of 500 people! In addition, several of the 60+ Sound Waters classes cover plastics, toxins, and what they’re doing to the marine environment.

• Don't trip over it

  We've implemented a Monofilament Recovery and Recycle Program (MRRP) at fishing beaches and boat launches around Whidbey Island.

  Discarded monofilament fishing line is responsible for entangling wildlife, often causing loss of limb, and death from starvation. Sea birds seem to be particularly susceptible. It’s also a danger to divers who can become caught up in the line under water, and is easily tripped over when walking along the beach.

• how small can it go?

  We are participating in a plastics debris study with Port Townsend Marine Science Center, where beach substrate is sifted and small plastic particles collected and identified back in the laboratory.

• Don't eat that plastic

  We are assisting the Port Townsend Marine Science Center with presentations to local schools to increase awareness of the threat of marine plastic debris to wildlife.

  By dissecting the boli from young albatross and combined with audio visuals, the children get a hands on expererience to understand why plastics are devastating to marine bird life