Museum of Litter

Museum of Kitty Litter? I don't think so!

 

Was at the AAA Office in Bradenton, FL. After getting a few maps, I mentioned to the woman at the counter something I had seen in the parking lot. I handed her my card telling her I was from the Museum of Litter and had seen one of those plastic outdoor Cigarette Butt receptacles laying on its side in the landscaping. A sign at the entrance to AAA states there is no smoking inside. "What chance is there a smoker will dispose of their butt properly if there is no ashtray in site near the door?" I asked, and wanted her to know where the receptacle had ended up.  As I was speaking, she got a quizzical look, burst out laughing hysterically, and admitted, "Oh! I thought you were talking about a Museum of Kitty Litter."

 

Sometimes when I mention Museum of Litter I get a blank look. Do you think they also think kitty litter? I just thought that maybe litter wasn't a pet peeve of theirs and they didn't relate. Guess I will have to be more specific.

Litter Donations -- June 22, 2009 -- Sanibel Island, FL and The Everglades

Went back to Sanibel's Lighthouse Beach late this morning before leaving the island and collected only cigarette butts for future litter art. It was pretty hot -- they were having a heat advisory -- so just collected a small zip lock bag full in fifteen minutes.

  On the way back to the east coast on Alligator Alley,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGijPkAxLt8&feature=channel_page

we stopped in the Everglades at a recreation area and did a quick pickup of cigarette butts and bottle caps in the parking lot.

 

 

Litter Donations -- Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - Lauderdale by the Sea, FL

 

Didn't have time to pick up litter this morning. Gary was on the beach talking to a tourist, an electrician from Connecticut, who said the amount of beach litter was "disgusting". This visitor had a plastic bag and was picking up our litter. Thanks for pitching in where you saw a need. He's thinking of moving here. Hope he does. Florida could use more residents like him! 

Litter Donations -- May 25, 2009 (Memorial Day) -- Lauderdale by the Sea, FL

 

Late start because of the on-going rain -- around 10am there was a sunny break and we headed out, starting at the Datura portal (behind Windjammer ) going north past Oriana, the Commercial Pier, Aruba and High Noon, stopping at Minto's, Villas by the Sea.

 

When I first entered the beach, a very sunburned tourist spotted an small sea creature on shore that could not get back out to the ocean.  It was moving slightly & looked like a slug. Her friend got a cup for the creature, filled it with sea water & it came to life all undulating and frilly, like a beautiful Alvin Ailey ballet. Click on the following blue sentence to see it in action:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqJohD-kM84  Her kids took it far out into the ocean so maybe it has a good chance of survival.

 

In two places I found fishing line tangled around plastic debris with seaweed and fish hooks. I would have liked to save the hooks for display in the Museum's hook line & sinker collection but it was so tangled I couldn't safely remove the litter. As it was, the hook pricked my plastic glove. I removed as much of the seaweed as I could safely and threw the rest away.

 

Collected one large (kitchen size) -- very heavy -- garbage bag worth of litter, just from the shoreline, in about an hour.

PLASTIC KILLS SEA TURTLES

 

This hauntingly beautiful video about Sea Turtles is a great visual reminder of why it's so important to eliminate litter on the beach and in the ocean:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67JRaWmdhls

 

This is why the Museum of Litter picks up all the miniscule pieces of plastic at the ocean's edge. Sometimes people comment our beach is clean. Even on days it looks clean, you'd be amazed at the quantity of tiny pieces of plastic along the shore. We invite you to join us in eliminating litter. Even if you're traveling it's easy to carry a small plastic bag and collect debris. It's very pleasant and will make you feel good about helping the planet. 

 

Every litter bit hurts. Every little bit (picked up) helps. 

Returned: Lost Camera with 700+ Family Photos

 

Gary recently found a digital camera while metal detecting on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale. The camera barely worked, but the memory card had 700+ family photos. The photos seemed to revolve around an adorable young boy and his extended family during all the holidays, sporting events and birthdays for a whole year. There were pictures of him dyeing Easter eggs, in Halloween costume surveying all his candy, standing in snow, under the Christmas tree with presents, family vacations, playing soccor and proudly showing a ribbon won for a track event. There were even pictures of a military funeral.

 

I wanted so much to return the pictures to the family and was certain if I looked closely enough, there would be some identifying clue to find the owner. Sure enough, there was. In the track photos the jerseys and a scoreboard gave the clue "Mariemont Warriors." A quick google search came up with Cincinnati. So far so good, but, still not enough info. Fortunately, a birthday party in the spring/summer provided the clue. At the festivities a magician is standing by the young boy and nearby is a sandwich board reading: "Happy Birthday, Joseph, from Charlie Cadabra." Another quick goggle and soon Charlie is giving me Joseph's family contact info. Now, there's magic for you!

 

Joseph had been vacationing with his grandmother when the camera was lost. She wrote, "Thank you very much, I set the camera on my beach towel and forgot and picked up the towel. I have told my family about you and they can't believe it. First that you took the time to try and find me and then were able to do so. Will never forget you."  An odd twist: the Museum of Litter set out to preserve the environment and ended up helping preserve a family's memories. That feels good!

Did Harry help save the planet?

Harry didn't call. He didn't write. He didn't visit. He left yesterday morning to go back to VA with the teenager's high school ring among his vacation souveniers. Harry made metal-detectors and adults everywhere look bad.

The next time G sees the young man he'll have to tell him it WAS found but the finder wanted to keep it. Harry wanted to keep it because, in his words, he "worked hard for it" and "it meant something to him." If he thinks it means something to him, what does he think it means to the kid? Even more, what it means to the kid's view of his fellow man as he is just starting out in life. 

Thanks, Harry!  If you ever find yourself reading this, Harry, and you change your mind, you know where to reach us.

What are you doing for Earth Day?

Every day is a good day to be green, but did you do anything special for Earth Day? It's not too late. Even if you just have a minute or two you can pick up a few pieces of litter and help clean up our environment. That is something simple any of us can do anywhere, even if we are traveling.

My friend Hannah and I met at the beach early this morning to pick up litter. We collected three bags full, recycled what we could, threw away the nasty trash, then sat on a bench savoring our treasures of the day. One great find was a toy for molding wet sand. Although this is a wonderful addition to our kids toys collection, what makes it really exciting is, it's a plastic purple cow and I've been reading Seth Godin. Just loved the synchronicity! An odd find was an eyelash curler. It's the first I've come across in several years of litter collection. Was VERY pleased to come across several Blow Pop candy wrappers. They make the cutest mermaids. Don't have any to show -- they sell quickly -- but I will make some soon so you can see.