Here are the totals from our cleanup at Pismo Pier. Less trash was collected there than in past years, which shows the significant effect of recent measures like putting lids on beach trash cans, the city ban on styrofoam food and drink containers, and the county ban on plastic grocery bags. Now, about those cigarettes...
74 volunteers, including 17 children
48 lbs of trash + 3 lbs of recyclables (317 lbs of trash in 2015)
1060 cigarette butts!!!
201 food wrappers
4 foam take-out containers
150 plastic bottle caps
39 metal bottle caps
30 plastic lids
60 straws/stirrers
24 plastic utensils
12 plastic bottles
7 glass bottles
39 plastic bags
32 paper bags
5 paper plates/cups
6 plastic plates/cups
3 foam plates/cups
20 pieces of fishing gear
10 ballons
2 tires
42 pieces of plastic/foam packaging
2 condoms
1 tampon applicator
305 plastic/foam pieces
... and more
We picked up one of the most unusual items in SLO County: a checkbook. Its owner was happy to learn it had been found!
