Beach Litter

Years ago, when I was a teacher, Trevor and I went with friends to Discovery Bay, not far from Portland, Victoria (Australia).

It was a magnificent stretch; the beach was difficult to reach and we had to walk in ... a long and arduous trek through the dunes.

When we finally came out onto the deserted beach we got the shock of our lives; despite the isolation it was strewn with rubbish as far as we could see.

Every step we took, we reached yet another piece.

There were ropes and bottles (as you might expect), plastic and metal containers of all sizes and for a range of household and industrial purposes as well as from many different countries; there were light bulbs and a piece of carpet. There was even a container half full of carpet cleaner.

The four of us collected as much as we could carry and took it back, and the resuling heap placed in the middle of our classroom floor was the impetus for our International Year of the Oceans study.

Antechamber Bay does not have that level of littering though there are many more people accessing it directly and ships passing nearby frequently. My guess is that the local ocean currents carry most litter away to some other place, but there is enough.

A favourite piece is this little "broom".
Although it is litter, it is beautifully made.
We enjoy using it at our Kangaroo Island home.
Recycling with a difference.

:)