And PLEASE do not stand on or touch coral or any sea life.

AMEN, BEACHBOY!!!!

I've always thought that a great sign to post on every beach would be, "KEEP YOUR BUTTS OFF THE BEACH!"

And it's not just locals who toss bottles, etc. out of their cars to the side of the road. A couple of years ago, some young visitors who were friends of my then bartender came to pick her up after work. I was just letting her out and one of the kids in the back of the jeep stood up and hurled his beer bottle into the bush on the side of my place. I was furious, he got a real tongue-lashing AND, with the aid of a flashlight, was shamed into digging through the (very prickly) bush to retrieve the bottle and dispose of it properly. I don't think he'll ever even think again about tossing trash anywhere but in the trashcan!

All of these suggestions apply everywhere...not just on VI or vacation. If you smoke keep your butt in YOUR car. When I see someone throwing things from their car I want to stop and ask if they would like me to throw my trash on their living room floor.
OK...I'll step off the Soap Box.

Yes, yes and yes. Thanks mommy!!!

promoguy - hie thee to the beach!!!!!

And, Promo dear,

Please put the seat down when yer through!!

Toilet seat properly taken care of just as you suggested.

Promo-
Now I know....you have been hired as the forum comedian! Dah! 🙂

P.S.
Love it!

If I had a nickel for every *#@*!!*& straw I have picked up from beaches I would buy Great St James and make it a wilderness sanctuary...

Okay, please don't take this wrong...but aren't there litter laws? Forgive me for being stupid...but here in CO...the #1 thing visitors say is , gee there's no littter along the hiking trails or highways. People here can report it on their cell phone, and it's taken seriously. Why would people do this? Sorry, I am stupid and don't get this. People are throwing their trash on such a beautiful desitnation? Flogging, Promo? Here is where I'll join you! Let the floggings begin! 🙂

Maybe I shoud just change my code name to ColoradoGranola!

Hey,
Granola Head's not bad a bad moniker, either!!!

We have signs all over the island noting the fine for littering. Nice bright signs too and they cost the government a pretty penny a few years ago. I believe they are purely decorative. I can't recall reading that anyone has ever actually been fined for littering. No, EaglesLanded, you're not stupid to not get it. You really have to live here to get it.

I'm trying to get the stocks refurbished for Promoguy's forum bad of a short while ago and if I'm successful we'll clean them up after Promoguy's session and then maybe rent them out to those who turn in litterers. Cheers!

DreamConch,
Curious, what prompted you to do this thread! THANK YOU!
This is a pet peeve of mine and I am constantly stopping to pick up trash wherever I go! Was raised a garbage mans daughter and we would take the garbage truck out with some youth and go for miles to pick up trash! Obviously, that is where I got it from! When my children were little, I would do a special thing with their class, reading children's books on the issue and then take them out to do our part! Hope I have made a little bit of a difference in those young minds that will carry thru for life! 🙂
STT Resident,
I too, have been known to make a person get out of their vehicle and pick up the trash they threw out! It is totally unacceptable!
When I am at the airport, I am shocked by the visitors that go out across the street for a smoke and proceed to throw their butts on the ground! I am a smoker myself and will put my butt in my purse, if I can't find a receptacle! When I am at the beach doing a wedding, again, am shocked! Cig. butts everywhere! I am constantly picking them up!

Let's ALL do our part to keep not only our islands trash picked up, but our communities everywhere! 🙂

There are steps we can take to lessen garbage in our landfills as well! Like buying a large bottle of juice instead of the juice packs. Packaging has gotten crazy and out of hand! In the states, those large plastic bottles can be recycled (not applicable here). Cloth diapers instead of the throw away kind, carrying our own canvas grocery bags instead of using the stores plastic kind. Or like at Cost U Less (here), using the boxes that they are discarding! Just some added food for thought! We CAN make a difference!

Just so everyone knows and since my ego is so bruised, I too am against littering.

My preferred method is public flogging. A good method of keeping the citizens in line. In fact there should be a flogging station at every dumpster with over flowing trash. 50 lashes or maybe just being tethered to a post by the dumpster and it's smell will do the job.

Now to the beach.

I also want to go on record as being against littering.

Many years ago, my then husband and I were invited on a bareboat sail down there by one couple from Wisconsin, that my husband had known for years, and that we had sailed with the year before with another couple who's boat it was.

When I discovered the man getting ready to throw our very large garbage sack over the side, I made a big deal out of it.
He said, "Oh, relax, the ocean takes care of it! And, besides, that's what they do down here."

Being raised in So. Cal and always having loved the ocean and the beach, was astonished by his obvious disregard.
When he figured out I was 'not going to stand for it', we took it to shore (of course it's a hassle--so what!).
After that he threw every damn soda can that he was through with overboard in my presence to piss me off.
Never was or, wanted to be that man's friend after that trip.

You will find a great deal of litter - on the beaches and along the highways and by ways. It is a source of frustration to many people. It seems to be culturally acceptable to many on the Islands. Do not try and compare the VI to anywhere on the Mainland...that way lies madness!

It was one of the things that we noticed and were thankful for when we moved back to the US mainland - no ******** litter. No beer cans, dirty diapers, abandoned cars, garbage sacks!!!! It really used to get to me.