I set out last spring to make a daily effort to clean our local area beaches up. We are so fortunate in our area to have so many groups and individuals fighting this same fight every single day. However, every single day, we still face the same uphill and overwhelming battle. No matter how many bags we collect, there is always more. It isn't just an eyesore, it's an environmental disaster already happening.

Over the course of the this past year, one of the main things I have noticed is the litter I am picking up isn't coming from beach goers (although they do leave a lot). It is from trash being washed up our beaches as well as trash from local establishments. I cannot control what is being washed up from the bottom of the ocean or wherever it may come from but I can try to reduce the amount of debris being blown down into our dunes and waterways easily with one little, inexpensive adjustment to an already existing ordinance here in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

A large portion of the debris we see is from outdoor dining/drinking establishment patrons and the establishments themselves. These items no matter if wind blown, swept or just dropped are a huge issue for our beach. The current ordinance for such an establishment is as follows under Sec. 34-407- Outdoor Restaurants and Bars:

d. The outdoor customer service area shall not be used to compute the minimum seating or customer service area required to qualify for a special restaurant (SRX) alcoholic beverage license. For any establishment selling alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption, the outdoor service area shall be enclosed by a minimum forty-two-inch high wall or fence. The wall or fence shall be constructed of wood, metal (except chain link), plastic, or other similar material. No rope of any kind shall be permitted.

Simply requiring a mesh barrier along the bottom of the existing fences, even 8" or so would prevent the debris from leaving the establishment grounds allowing them to properly contain the litter, collect it and dispose of it properly therefore, reducing the environmental impact on on dunes, walkways and waterways. 

This is the initial step in proposing the ordinance change so please join with us on this. It is such a small requirement for such a large impact. If you can help with more than just a signature please, contact us on Facebook at: 

https://www.facebook.com/mycoastalconscience/  

Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you also to Tracy Gebeaux for recording his video showing a restaurant blowing the prior nights debris into the dunes.