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Benefits

Public Engagement- Awareness, Education, and Behavior Change

Participation in beach cleaning is associated with a better understanding of the issue of marine litter and its impacts. Beach cleaning volunteers demonstrated more accurate knowledge of the amount and type of waste in the local environment, as well greater awareness of the causes and consequences of marine litter. For example, Hartley et al. (2015) found that students that volunteered to clean a local beach with their school could more accurately identify the primary origins of marine litter and estimate the lifespan of plastic. By highlighting the connection between human behavior and marine litter, beach cleaning increases the likelihood that participants will habitually remove and appropriately dispose of coastal trash, as well as engage prevention and mitigation efforts. By comparing beach cleaning to other coastal activities- walking on the beach and rock pooling- Wyles et al. (2017) aimed to identify the benefits unique to beach cleaning. In doing so, the study discovered that individuals that participated in beach cleaning reported a significantly greater increase in their intention to live a environmentally-friendly lifestyle and their awareness of marine issues compared to other test groups after the intervention.

Well Being

Beach cleaning has been shown to cultivate a positive mood and feeling of fulfillment. Wyles et al. (2017) compared the effect various coastal activities- beach cleaning, rock pooling, and walking on the beach- had on well being. The study found that participants experienced an improvement in mood across all three activities, although individuals who participated in beach cleaning reported a statistically significant difference in the sense of meaning they derived from beach cleaning compared to walking on the beach and rock pooling.

Additional research on the effects of beach cleaning on personal well being has not been conducted. However, the two core components of beach cleaning- spending time by the ocean and volunteering to advance environmental stewardship (Bramston et al., 2011; Evans et al., 2005; Ryan et al.,2001; Koss & Kingsley, 2010)- have been associated with improved well being, mood, and outlook on life. For example, Koss and Kingsley (2010) found that individuals who volunteered at protected marine areas in Australia experienced greater mental and emotional well being and enhanced connection with the natural environment.

While beach cleaning can improve well being, Wyles et al. (2017) discovered that participants reported a statistically significant lower level of rejuvenation when beach cleaning compared to rock pooling and walking on the beach.

Lastly, the well being benefits associated with beach cleaning are not only limited to the individuals actively removing trash from the coast but can be enjoyed by community members and beach goers. Wyles et al. (2016) claims that the presence of litter can diminish the psychological benefits of beaches. Beach goers in Wyles et al. (2016) even described feelings of sadness or anger when confronted with litter, explaining that these emotions emerged because the trash negatively impacts the environment and distracts from the beauty of the landscape.

Public Engagement in Beach Cleaning

Overview

There are three primary ways the public can learn about or participate in beach cleaning: educational programs, awareness campaigns, and volunteering.

Types of Engagement

Educational Programs and Awareness Campaigns

Educational and awareness campaigns can be developed by schools or promoted by government. Both have effectively enhanced their target audience’s knowledge of marine litter, perception of the extent of the issue, and catalyzed behavior change.

Multiple studies research the impact of service learning programs on students’ level of knowledge accumulation and awareness of both marine litter and broader marine conservation issues. For example, Owens (2018) studied the self-reported change in student’s perception of their knowledge about ocean conservation and environmental behavior. The study compared the responses of two groups- an undergraduate class enrolled in a seminar course supplemented by a service learning opportunity cleaning beaches and an undergraduate class enrolled in a traditional laboratory-based environmental science course. Students who participated in beach cleaning reported a significantly greater perception of knowledge and environmental behavior compared to the students in the laboratory-based class. The students who participated in beach cleaning also saw a significantly greater increase in their scores for perceived knowledge and environmental behavior compared to the other cohort.

Educational campaigns can spread knowledge and incite behavior change beyond the target audience. For example, Hartley et al. (2015) explains that students who participated in beach cleaning with their school encouraged their friends and family to join them in adopting mitigation and prevention behaviors.

Volunteering

Volunteering improves participants’ awareness and knowledge about marine litter and increases the likelihood that individuals will take continued action to address the issue. For example, Hartley et al. (2015) claims that after volunteering to clean a local beach with their school, children reported engaging in mitigation and prevention behavior more frequently, such as purchasing fewer, single-use items, appropriately disposing of their waste, and recycling. Uneputty et al. (1998) found that individuals who had volunteered to clean beaches continued to remove trash from beaches and not litter months after they had participated in a volunteer program. Furthermore, surveys and interviews have revealed that once individuals begin volunteering in beach cleaning, they want to continue.

Numerous studies have determined that volunteers, whether organized through schools and universities or individual interest, can significantly reduce the quantity of solid waste on beaches.

Numerous volunteer beach cleaning programs have been facilitated by schools that promote service learning opportunities. These studies, in conjunction with research conducted with participants that joined programs entirely voluntarily, have demonstrated that groups that were previously concerned about marine litter and those that were not can experience an increase in awareness and knowledge, as well as positive behavior change through the hands on experience and learning involved in volunteering.

Beach cleaning volunteers reap the same benefits from their participation as individuals who participate in other coastal activities. Wyles et al. (2017) studied the impact various coastal activities- beach cleaning, rock pooling, and walking on the beach- had on well being and discovered that all three led to a similar betterment in mood. However, individuals who participated in beach cleaning described a more intense sense of fulfillment when compared to the groups.

While further research has not been completed on the mental and emotional benefits of beach cleaning, volunteers who promote environmental stewardship have reported improvements in their well being.

Conclusion

Individuals that perceive marine litter as an issue and understand its harmful consequences are more likely to participate in activities that reduce marine litter. In this way, educational and awareness campaigns and programs, as well as volunteer opportunities not only expand participants’ knowledge, but encourage participation in beach cleaning and mitigation behaviors. Similarly, individuals that have volunteered as beach cleaners and/or have witnessed the extent of the problem of marine litter are more likely to develop a more in-depth understanding of the issue and continue to take action to address it.

The benefits of educational programs, awareness campaigns, and volunteering extend beyond the participants or individuals targeted. Furthermore, these forms of engagement offer personal benefits to the individuals involved in them like improved well being.