VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A program on the Oceanfront hopes to cut down on plastics in the water and give beach toys a new life.
To reduce littered toys local environmental nonprofits partnered with the City of Virginia Beach to launch the Beach Toy Recycling Program at Virginia Beach Oceanfront on Friday.
Littered toys contribute to plastic pollution in the ocean, which is harmful to local wildlife.
Beachgoers can drop off toys they have no use for or found on the beach, and kids can go and find something they like and go and play for the day.
“Toys left on the beach can end up as hazardous marine debris that contribute to the plastic pollution issues we see in our waterways. Both large and small pieces of plastic debris can be harmful to birds, sea turtles, and other wildlife. The beach toy recycling program is such a fun and easy way for beach visitors to help protect our waterways and wildlife and to help Keep It Beachy Clean,” says Christina Trapani, Director of Keep it Beachy Clean, a program of Clean Virginia Waterways.
Keep it Beachy Clean and Tidewater Master Naturalists secured funding to construct four wooden boxes. LRNow volunteer, Mike Lavery built the boxes, and students from Seatack Elementary and Cooke Elementary schools painted the boxes.
“We’re amazed by the kids’ creative artwork and super thankful for the teachers who went above and beyond to support the beach box project,” said Laura Traylor, Tidewater Master Naturalist and Cooke Elementary parent.
Beach sand toy recycling boxes are at the following locations:
- Beach walkway by 7th Street Stage
- Beach walkway by 17th Street Park
- Beach ramp by 24th Park
- Beach walkway by 31st Street Park
On Saturday mornings, you can also drop the gently used toys off at the Old Beach Art & Eco Market at the Eco Maniac Company tent/truck.