Tourists should have more respect for SLO County beaches
“Trash lines Avila Beach in wake of Memorial Day weekend” (May 31) is a sad reminder that people feel they can enjoy their beach time, then walk away from their trash and leave it for the birds, ocean and others to pick up.
Our local community does care about our beaches, and many have tried over the past few years to address trash on our beach with community education and ECOSLO-sponsored trash pickup days. It is doubly sad that in order to have a clean beach, we must have ordinances.
People have lost a sense of responsibility and common courtesy. Our local citizens’ initiative SLO FOAM Free is continuing its efforts to pass legislation in Grover Beach, Atascadero and Paso Robles after succeeding in San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach and Arroyo Grande during the past year.
Banning the use of Styrofoam in itself will not solve the beach littering problem, but it is a step in the right direction. More importantly, it sends a very important message to residents and visitors alike that our cities have given high priority to preserving the beauty and cleanliness of our beaches, waterways and open spaces. Refuse to take or buy Styrofoam.
Janine Rands, San Luis Obispo
This story was originally published June 8, 2016 at 11:55 PM with the headline "Tourists should have more respect for SLO County beaches."