Volunteers rally Labor Day to keep Tahoe’s beaches clean
Submitted by editor on Wed, 09/05/2018 - 12:46pm
Early Monday morning more than 70 Keep Tahoe Blue volunteers arrived at Commons Beach in Tahoe City to comb the sands along 6 miles of shoreline in search of items left behind by those enjoying the previous night’s festivities.
“It’s amazing to see so many dedicated community members show up early on a holiday morning to help protect Lake Tahoe,” said Marilee Movius, the League’s community engagement manager. “Even though the fireworks and crowds out to enjoy them eventually disperse the plastic trash left behind would remain forever if not for the efforts of these inspiring community members.”
Of the 224 pounds of litter removed by volunteers that morning some of the most damaging to Lake Tahoe are the smallest and most obscure items that may not be seen at first glance. Micro-trash in the form of 2,064 cigarette butts and 1,520 plastic pieces were picked-up, sorted and even recycled.
League staff ship the cigarette butts to a company on the east coast that upcycles them into new plastic products. As for the rest of the plastic pieces, those unfortunately will just end up in landfills.
“While it’s great to get this trash off our beaches the real solution is to not create the trash in the first place,” explains Movius. “Almost every one of these small plastic pieces of trash have a reusable and sustainable alternative and we encourage everyone enjoying Lake Tahoe to bring reusable items and Keep Tahoe Blue.”
Volunteers are not the only ones working hard to keep Tahoe’s beach pristine. Local land managers like the Tahoe City Public Utility District have crews working tirelessly to clean the beaches, trails and parks but there is often just too much to keep up with. According to Valli Murnane of the TCPUD “The partnership of volunteers and public agencies is a win-win situation for all including our very own Lake Tahoe.”
Even local businesses are joining in on the effort. Arcade Belts of Truckee co-hosted the cleanup event by providing refreshments and raffle prizes for the volunteers while also sending staff to participate.
“We look forward to this event every year,” said Kasey Wiese, marketing communications manager for Arcade Belts. “We take this opportunity to help Keep Tahoe Blue spread the important message of picking up after yourself at our beaches. Let’s be honest, no one likes a dirty beach.”
Thanks to the local community those coming to the Lake won’t have to wade through litter to get to the beautiful blue waters of Tahoe.
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