Chapter IV
Discussions and Results
Coastal Cleanups
Through several programs, volunteers regularly clean up trash and other marine debris on New
Hampshire’s coast and record their findings. The data documents what ends up on the coast and helps
determine what pollution laws are working and what outreach tactics may be needed. Results in New
Hampshire show that the biggest problems come from picnickers, smokers and recreational or
commercial fishers.
What is Marine Debris?
Marine debris is anything that does not occur in the natural environment, including general
litter, fishing equipment and bulky items, like metal, wood and tires. Debris is one of the biggest
problems facing marine life, which can ingest or become entangled in it. Debris also degrades important
rocky shore and underwater habitats. It can injure humans and cause problems for boaters as well as
cause economic losses through its effect on commercially valuable marine species and important tourist
areas.
Marine debris comes from both land-based and water-based sources. On land, rivers and
streams can carry debris far from its source and out to the ocean. Beachgoers often leave trash and
picnic supplies behind. Common land-based debris, like cigarette butts, food wrappers/containers,
straws, caps, packaging and other litter can kill marine life if accidentally ingested or fed by parents to
their young. This type of unsightly debris also makes visiting the coast less enjoyable for humans.
On the ocean, trash from boats is thrown or blown into the water, posing a risk to other boaters
and to marine wildlife and habitats. Lost fishing line and nets, rope and other trash can wrap around
fins, flippers and limbs of fish, seals, whales, crustaceans, seabirds and other animals. This can affect
their ability to eat, move and care for their young. Other ocean-based debris, like hooks and lures, are
unsafe for people walking and swimming along the coast.
Time it takes for garbage to decompose in the environment:
Glass Bottle.......................... 1 million years
Monofilament Fishing Line… 600 years
Plastic Beverage Bottles…… 450 years
Disposable Diapers………… 450 years
Aluminum Can..................... 80-200 years
Foamed Plastic Buoy……… 80 years
Foamed Plastic Cups……… 50 years
Rubber-Boot Sole............... 50-80 years
Tin Cans……………………. 50 years
Leather................................. 50 years
Nylon Fabric........................ 30-40 years
Plastic Film Container........ 20-30 years
Plastic Bag.......................... 10-20 years
Cigarette Butt...................... 1-5 years
Wool Sock............................ 1-5 years
Plywood…………………….. 1-3 years
Waxed Milk Carton………… 3 months
Apple Core…………………. 2 months
Newspaper………………….. 6 weeks
Orange or Banana Peel...... 2-5 weeks
Paper Towel……………….. 2-4 weeks
Information Source: U.S. National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, Sarasota, FL.
Cigarette butts are the most common item found during beach cleanups in New Hampshire and
the country. They are not just unsightly litter; they are also a danger to wildlife, a health hazard to
people, and pollutants of our waters and soils.
In 2008, cigarette butts were the most common debris item collected at New Hampshire beach
cleanups, according to the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. A startling 85,875 cigarette
butts were collected from coastal waterways in 2008.
While paper and tobacco are biodegradable, cigarette filters are not. Nearly all cigarette filters
are made of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic, and they can take many years to degrade. When it
rains, the water from the rain washes any debris, including cigarette butts, into nearby waterways or to
storm drains that flow right to our lakes, rivers and oceans.
Whether or not you smoke, there are steps you can take:

If you smoke, please don’t litter. Carry around a piece of foil or an empty aluminum
container to put your cigarette butts in when you are away from an ashtray.

Don’t flush cigarette butts down the toilet. They do not biodegrade and may clog your
septic system or sewer lines. (Failed septic systems and sewer lines are a leading cause
of beach and water contamination.)

When on Hampton Beach, use the cigarette butt disposal stations.

Participate in or organize a local litter cleanup and make sure that picking up cigarette
butts is part of that effort. Raising awareness of the issue helps. For more information
on organized cleanups, contact the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation at (603)
431-0260.

If you own or work at a public business, consider placing a cigarette butt receptacle in
front of your entrance. While making it more convenient for smokers to do the right
thing, this will also decrease your daily cleanup efforts.

If you know smokers, try to educate them on the amount of cigarette butts that are
around and how long it takes butts to biodegrade.

Asking local officials to take a more active role in the issue.
Coastal Cleanup Day
Coastal Cleanup is a kind of activity with a purpose to “take on trash” and return our coastline to
their natural beauty. Cleanup has even greater significance as before with the amount of Tsunami debris
that volunteers and organizers are expected to encounter. Here are some facts of Coastal Cleanup that
we hope inspire you to take part.
• The Ocean Conservancy reported that 598,076 people picked up more than 9,184,248 million
pounds of trash along 20,776 miles of coastlines last year.
• Items picked up included enough clothing to outfit the entire audience of the Olympics opening
ceremony; enough food packaging to get takeout for lunch, breakfast and dinner every day for
the next 858 years; and enough light bulbs to replace every light on the Eiffel Tower.
• Beverage containers collected could yield $45,489, if recycled.
• Cigarettes were the number one item collected and that 80% of the total debris items were made
up of the top ten items.
• The United States, the Philippines, and Canada were the top 3 participating countries.
We believe on the inter-action principle, where in that what you do shall have a corresponding
effect. With that, our small act of kindness will have greater effect in the future. If all of us will act
towards the betterment of our shore lines, for sure at much time, we can save our marine life.