Fellow Litter-pickers: What valuables have you found?
The most expensive things I've found would be iPhones. We've found several and have been able to find the owners for all of them.
Most of them were happy and appreciative of the effort to find them, like Austin:
but then there was George ... a Jack-Nicholson-bad-boy-character look alike who made me want to hit him over the head with his iPhone.
The most VALUABLE thing we've been able to return, was a grandmother's camera. The camera barely worked, but the memory card had 700+ family photos. The photos revolved 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 soccer and proudly showing a ribbon won for a track event, even pictures of a military funeral. Although she was visiting from Ohio and lost her camera on.Fort Lauderdale beach, we were able to locate her and return these priceless memories. Read how we were able to find grandma to return her camera.
Not really of monetary valuable, but VALUABLE TO ME, are this cloth sun visor and plastic beach basket. These former pieces of litter were not only rescued from the Atlantic Garbage Patch they are both very useful to me. I use them both almost daily.
I can't keep everything I find and would like to pass it along to you. Other great litter finds can be found on our Pinterest Board Lost & Found & REcycled. These are beautiful, serviceable, somewhat valuable items that need to go to someone who can put them to good use. If you see something you like or think would make a good gift, please consider using or gifting this item rather than purchasing it new. In addition to a cool item, you'll be supporting a litter-free environment and conscientioius, anti-consumerism and all the plastic packaging that goes with it.
In your clean ups have YOU found anything valuable? Were you able to return it? If not, what did you do with it? Did you give it away? Do you use it? Do you have any *keepers*, like me? Any good stories to share? Would love to hear them and see pictures of your treasures. It's so true: one mans trash is another mans treasure.
