West Seattle, Washington

24 Wednesday

51℉

West Seattle weekend scenes: Alki Beach cleanup

September 15, 2012 4:42 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(First 2 photos by Hannah Letinich)
Been to Alki today? Notice something missing? Thanks to volunteers including the ones above, here’s what you’re NOT seeing on and in the Alki Beach sand:

Today’s big work party for International Coastal Cleanup Day, led by partners including Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, is a wrap – but help ’em out and be sure to toss your non-recyclables and pack out your recyclables next time you’re there!

ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: Thanks to Tom Foley for additional information and photos. He says about 80 people joined in:

And the cigarette butts alone totaled more than 30 pounds, Tom adds. Two unusual items recovered: a rusty hatchet and pocket knife:

Tom volunteers with Puget Soundkeeper Alliance.

Share This

10 Replies to "West Seattle weekend scenes: Alki Beach cleanup"

  • Marie M September 15, 2012 (7:34 pm)

    I was part of the work party. Guess the two things that surprised me most were 1) there wasn’t as much trash as I expected to find and 2) cigarette butts were the main trash component I found. I thought people were slowing down on smoking around here – but maybe they’re just bringing their habit to the beach. Fun morning, regardless.

  • Phillip September 15, 2012 (8:12 pm)

    Two things: (1) awesome of them to do, and (2) people are pigs. Don’t leave trash on the beach!

  • Julie September 15, 2012 (10:34 pm)

    Cigarette butts are the most common item I’ve found in any cleanup, beach or otherwise, I’ve ever participated in. Why do we tolerate this toxic waste on our beaches?

  • Kip September 16, 2012 (4:25 am)

    Thank You Volunteers & Puget Sound Keeper Alliance!!! Beautiful work~

  • Trina September 17, 2012 (1:36 pm)

    Thanks to all of the volunteers for doing this! You make the world a better place!!

  • John Sanders September 17, 2012 (1:45 pm)

    Thank you all for your clean up efforts! I appreciate it.

  • Amanda September 17, 2012 (2:21 pm)

    I don’t understand why smokers think it is okay to litter, like that little cigarette butt doesn’t count! It amazes me. Pack out your trash people!!

  • JG September 17, 2012 (2:33 pm)

    People are pretty much pigs. But I’m sure some of the stuff like the hatchet and the knife probably washed up. Likely from falling off of boats.

  • cjboffoli September 17, 2012 (3:00 pm)

    Not only do cellulose acetate-based cigarette filters NOT degrade, but they leach all kinds of toxic chemicals into the Sound. Just horrible.

  • jana S. September 17, 2012 (3:59 pm)

    I never toss my butts on the beach, I’ve lived on Alki for a long time and consider it my yard!

Sorry, comment time is over.