Crap on the beach

Wow, for once I hope the artist loses. Otherwise, every umbrella owner will claim their beach crap is an artwork. I say the art is litter like any other. Usually the found art was shown in galleries. What right has an artist to make the beach their personal gallery? Isn't it ironic that the "art" was removed but personal belongings usually are left?

And that folks, is the funniest response to one of my posts ever! I am still giggling.

And that folks, is the funniest response to one of my posts ever! I am still giggling.

:clap_1: ...me, too!

And that folks, is the funniest response to one of my posts ever! I am still giggling.

yes! very good one Caroling... :clap_1:

Wow, for once I hope the artist loses. Otherwise, every umbrella owner will claim their beach crap is an artwork. I say the art is litter like any other. Usually the found art was shown in galleries. What right has an artist to make the beach their personal gallery? Isn't it ironic that the "art" was removed but personal belongings usually are left?

30Gay is going to get sent to the lounge.... nah nah nah nah... oh, I forgot. no rules for 30gay. he's allowed to run amok all over the board.

Ah, one of my favorite subjects. Crap on the beach.

I set up and rent beach chairs in the Seagrove area and I can tell you, it will be a long battle to get folks to pack out what they pack in. Our busiest days are Sundays as everyone checks in on Saturday afternoons and hit the beach for a week starting Sunday. I do my best to politely educate some on proper beach etiquette (a.k.a. common sense), but alas each Sunday a whole new group of wide-eyed folks throng to the shores to leave a brand new mess.

It's gotten to the point that I just don't bother. It only upsets me and I can't, nor do I have the authority, to control anyone. It's the little stuff that gets to me. Beer bottle caps from illegal glass containers, cigarette butts, and plastic wrappers are the most common, but it dismays me that some leave whole tents which have predictably been torn apart from evening storms. Everyone expects the beaches to be nice for them yet many feel or rather don't feel, the duty to make sure it's nice for the next group. Where's the honor these days?

Unfortunately, it's a do unto them before it gets done unto me world these days.

Ah, one of my favorite subjects. Crap on the beach.

I set up and rent beach chairs in the Seagrove area and I can tell you, it will be a long battle to get folks to pack out what they pack in. Our busiest days are Sundays as everyone checks in on Saturday afternoons and hit the beach for a week starting Sunday. I do my best to politely educate some on proper beach etiquette (a.k.a. common sense), but alas each Sunday a whole new group of wide-eyed folks throng to the shores to leave a brand new mess.

It's gotten to the point that I just don't bother. It only upsets me and I can't, nor do I have the authority, to control anyone. It's the little stuff that gets to me. Beer bottle caps from illegal glass containers, cigarette butts, and plastic wrappers are the most common, but it dismays me that some leave whole tents which have predictably been torn apart from evening storms. Everyone expects the beaches to be nice for them yet many feel or rather don't feel, the duty to make sure it's nice for the next group. Where's the honor these days?

Unfortunately, it's a do unto them before it gets done unto me world these days.

You sound very level headed.

It's a shame too because if you ask kids to help clean up the beach they love to do it. It's like a scavenger hunt for them.

I still think that with a couple of years of strict enforcement that word will get around to most people. The TDC may be worried about offending some visitors but in the long run it would be best for us all.

I do my best to politely educate some on proper beach etiquette (a.k.a. common sense), but alas each Sunday a whole new group of wide-eyed folks throng to the shores to leave a brand new mess.

Much like the old saying goes: "It's like trying to teach a pig to sing...it's a waste of your time and it annoys the pig."

Ah, one of my favorite subjects. Crap on the beach.
Everyone expects the beaches to be nice for them yet many feel or rather don't feel, the duty to make sure it's nice for the next group. Where's the honor these days?

Unfortunately, it's a do unto them before it gets done unto me world these days.

Yesterday I went to Wings around the corner from me and asked the manager guy if he knew how much of the cheap plastic stuff he sells gets discarded on the beach..and if he had any kind of company policy to help clean up the beaches. His answer? "My responsibility ends when the customer hands over his money. No,sorry, we dont have a company policy to help clean up the beaches.

Much like the old saying goes: "It's like trying to teach a pig to sing...it's a waste of your time and it annoys the pig."

I have taught a few dogs to sing.

We just returned 9/3 from a week at the beach. The first 4 or 5 days of our trip the only "beach crap" we encountered were the wooden beach chairs and umbrella's set up by the beach service people. They were left through the night all week from Dune Allen down to Old Florida Beach....

Yesterday I went to Wings around the corner from me and asked the manager guy if he knew how much of the cheap plastic stuff he sells gets discarded on the beach..and if he had any kind of company policy to help clean up the beaches. His answer? "My responsibility ends when the customer hands over his money. No,sorry, we dont have a company policy to help clean up the beaches.

The ignorant slobs who litter the beaches will find that cheap plastic stuff at Wal-Mart or a ton of other stores even if Wings were to stop carrying those items. I can't say I blame the Wings manager for his response. Perhaps they could put up signs reminding customers about beach courtesy, but you can't put the responsibility on them to clean up after the slobs any more than you can ask the liquor stores to clean the empty bottles and beer cans off the beaches.

We just returned 9/3 from a week at the beach. The first 4 or 5 days of our trip the only "beach crap" we encountered were the wooden beach chairs and umbrella's set up by the beach service people. They were left through the night all week from Dune Allen down to Old Florida Beach....

Beachma - Ditto, plus all summer. Thanks for the confirmation.

You sound very level headed.

It's a shame too because if you ask kids to help clean up the beach they love to do it. It's like a scavenger hunt for them.

I still think that with a couple of years of strict enforcement that word will get around to most people. The TDC may be worried about offending some visitors but in the long run it would be best for us all.

Just a point of clarification that the TDC is not worried about offending visitors in regard to picking up after themselves. We work with all county personnel and our lodging associations to ask them to pass on a myriad of information to their guests including beach cleanliness. We also are eyes on the beach that point out the exact same enforcement issues that are often highlighted on this board. Additionally, we have installed close to 400 trash receptacles on the beach that are emptied daily except in the dead of winter (3-4 times a week), and allocate 1% of the overall TDC budget to Beach Maintenance that includes beach cleaning. Finally, we are the organizers for the International Coastal Clean-up day for South Walton along the beaches, and it's September 16th so come on out!

I am not saying we are perfect and that we get everything off the beach just that we are supporters both financially and philosophically with removing things from the beach.

Thanks Kurt for throwing us under the bus...

Just a point of clarification that the TDC is not worried about offending visitors in regard to picking up after themselves. We work with all county personnel and our lodging associations to ask them to pass on a myriad of information to their guests including beach cleanliness. We also are eyes on the beach that point out the exact same enforcement issues that are often highlighted on this board. Additionally, we have installed close to 400 trash receptacles on the beach that are emptied daily except in the dead of winter (3-4 times a week), and allocate 1% of the overall TDC budget to Beach Maintenance that includes beach cleaning. Finally, we are the organizers for the International Coastal Clean-up day for South Walton along the beaches, and it's September 16th so come on out!

I am not saying we are perfect and that we get everything off the beach just that we are supporters both financially and philosophically with removing things from the beach.

Thanks Kurt for throwing us under the bus...

Hey brad ... do you have any idea if the education is making its way to the tourists? Have you worked directly with the rental companies in this? Can you lean on them if they are not following through?

I have seen your staff in action and I'm sure they are very busy! They cannot do it all. The key here I believe is education, and hopefully some enforcement. No one expects you guys to have to pick up after everyone.

Just a point of clarification that the TDC is not worried about offending visitors in regard to picking up after themselves. We work with all county personnel and our lodging associations to ask them to pass on a myriad of information to their guests including beach cleanliness. We also are eyes on the beach that point out the exact same enforcement issues that are often highlighted on this board. Additionally, we have installed close to 400 trash receptacles on the beach that are emptied daily except in the dead of winter (3-4 times a week), and allocate 1% of the overall TDC budget to Beach Maintenance that includes beach cleaning. Finally, we are the organizers for the International Coastal Clean-up day for South Walton along the beaches, and it's September 16th so come on out!

I am not saying we are perfect and that we get everything off the beach just that we are supporters both financially and philosophically with removing things from the beach.

Thanks Kurt for throwing us under the bus...

A little sensitive aren't we?

I believe the new receptacle by the lake in Grayton has kept that area cleaner.

we are the organizers for the International Coastal Clean-up day for South Walton along the beaches, and it's September 16th so come on out!

Sept 16 - Coastal Clean-up Day! saw the ad in the Walton Sun! Great! :clap_1:

A little sensitive aren't we?

I believe the new receptacle by the lake in Grayton has kept that area cleaner.

No I was kidding that's why i put the smiley, I guess I should have used the wink.

I did want people to know that the TDC has no problem with education and taking STRONG positions, as we try and sometimes it's like... for us also. This does not mean that the tourism industry may have some individuals who might take umbrage, but none that we know of. Like on Dragnet, just the facts!

By the way, are you going to be at Coastal Cleanup on the 16th or preparing for a football game.

Hey brad ... do you have any idea if the education is making its way to the tourists? Have you worked directly with the rental companies in this? Can you lean on them if they are not following through?

I have seen your staff in action and I'm sure they are very busy! They cannot do it all. The key here I believe is education, and hopefully some enforcement. No one expects you guys to have to pick up after everyone.

It's like everything, we have examples where education makes it to the end user, and where it doesn't. The biggest problem we have is getting it to the person who has one or two houses. We send out emails and letters allowing them to request any promotional and educational items we have, and then we mail/deliver what they need. We also just drop in on the bigger ones. Things like the Seemore the Safety Crab Program are readily requested and delivered other stuff depends on the company.

Can we lean on them... no. They don't answer to us and we have NO regulatory or enforcement capabilities. We do often partner/highlight the ones that do a better job so it's more positive reinforcement instead of a hand slap.

No I was kidding that's why i put the smiley, I guess I should have used the wink.

I did want people to know that the TDC has no problem with education and taking STRONG positions, as we try and sometimes it's like... for us also. This does not mean that the tourism industry may have some individuals who might take umbrage, but none that we know of. Like on Dragnet, just the facts!

By the way, are you going to be at Coastal Cleanup on the 16th or preparing for a football game.

I always prepare for football games by cleaning up the beach.

I'm really sad that I cannot clean the beaches on that Saturday - I'm hosting a baby shower that morning at 11:00 and have much to do... believe me, I am gonna be wishing I was out there picking up garbage...:roll:

I'm sending my boys though...

and we have NO regulatory or enforcement capabilities.

Mr. Pickel:
Thank you for joining this discussion. Earlier this year a Sheriff's Deputy on Beach Patrol stated that they don't enforce rules regarding tents left overnight on the beach. He indicated that the TDC was in charge of enforcement.

I have a few questions:

1. Are there rules/ordinances against leaving articles (such as tents) on the beach overnight?

2. Which agency has the authority (or will) to enforce said rules, if they exist?

Thanks for your interest in this issue.

Hello Brad!

Good to hear from you. How does one obtain this info you mentioned was sent out in emails? I am an end user in SoWal. That doesn't sound very nice. Thank you!

Could you put a trash receptacle at the end of the dune crossover from Deer Lake State Park, please?

The ignorant slobs who litter the beaches will find that cheap plastic stuff at Wal-Mart or a ton of other stores even if Wings were to stop carrying those items. I can't say I blame the Wings manager for his response. Perhaps they could put up signs reminding customers about beach courtesy, but you can't put the responsibility on them to clean up after the slobs any more than you can ask the liquor stores to clean the empty bottles and beer cans off the beaches.

Excellent ideas, and doesn't affect sales, but may help to remind a few extra people the importance of cleaning up after themselves. It only takes one, to start a revolution.