Okay, so “plage mala,” huh? Sounds fancy, but really, it’s just beach cleaning. I decided to give it a shot because, well, our beaches are looking pretty rough these days.
First, I grabbed some supplies. Nothing crazy, just:
- Thick gloves – didn’t want to poke myself with anything nasty.
- A couple of big, sturdy trash bags.
- A separate bag for recyclables, just in case.
- Sunscreen! Gotta protect that skin.
Getting Started Was Kinda Awkward
I hit the beach early, hoping to avoid crowds. Still, there were a few folks around, giving me the side-eye. I felt like a weirdo, picking up other people’s trash. But I just put my head down and started collecting.
It’s amazing (and disgusting) what you find. Mostly plastic, of course. Bottles, caps, food wrappers, straws… you name it. There were also a surprising number of cigarette butts. Seriously, people? It’s sand, not an ashtray!
The Process Itself
I developed a system. Big stuff went straight into the trash bag. Anything that looked remotely recyclable (and wasn’t too gross) went into the other bag. I focused on a small section of the beach at a time, trying to be thorough. And, let’s be real, I took some breaks to just sit and enjoy the ocean sounds.
After a couple of hours, my bags were pretty full. It’s a weird mix of feelings. You’re proud of the work you did, but also kind of bummed out by how much trash there was in the first place.
The End Result
I hauled my full bags to the nearest trash and recycling bins. Felt good, like I’d actually done something, you know? It wasn’t going to solve the whole ocean plastic problem, but it was a start. It was a tiny dent, but a dent nonetheless.
Would I do it again? Yeah, probably. It’s not glamorous, but it’s real. And honestly, spending a few hours cleaning up the beach is a small price to pay for enjoying those ocean views.
