The abundance of trash left behind on our beaches, and specifically Hammonasset Beach, is more than just appalling and ugly.  It's harmful.  The bulk of what is left behind are vast amounts of plastics.  All of which are just a few feet from the waters of the Sound.  Where we fish.  Where we swim.  Where our children swim.  Where our wildlife feed.  And while, in a perfect world, all of this could easily be solved by visitors taking their trash with them when they leave, perhaps we might start by supplying trash receptacles.

I walked the beach at Hammonasset early one recent morning and, within moments, my arms were full with discarded trash .. which I had to carry the entirety of my 3 mile walk back until I could find someplace to discard it in a dumpster.  It was but a mere fraction of what was strewn about the beach!

Why are we not supplying trash bins?  Surely the cost of doing so is worth it to keep it out of our oceans and killing our wildlife.  Not to mention keeping this jewel of a destination beautiful and welcoming.