Florida Beach Reopens
Less than a month after a Florida beach reopened after COVID-19 closures, volunteers collected more than 13,000 pounds of trash from its shores. In response, police will crack down on litter laws. (1, 2)
Cocoa Beach is one of the beaches in Brevard County, Florida that reopened on April 21, 2020 after closing amid health safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The beaches had partially opened with regulations on April 2. People were able to walk, jog, bike, fish, surf, and swim on the beaches. But they could not sunbathe or sit on the beach. (1)
City Manager Courtney Barker praised Brevard County residents’ “strong compliance” to the regulations, writing, “The City would like to thank our community for continuing to abide by the social distancing measures we have put in place at our beaches to safeguard our residents during this pandemic response,” in a Facebook post. (1)
As a result, authorities reopened the beaches for all activities. However, visitors to Cocoa Beach still have to practice social distancing, and there is a ban on alcohol at the beach. Public beach parking remains closed as well, with $500 fines for those who park illegally. (1)
13,000 Pounds of Trash Collected at Beach
Visitors flocked to Cocoa Beach to enjoy the sun and sand after it reopened. But on the weekend of May 9, less than a month later, 13,000 pounds were collected at the same beach. (2)
Cocoa Beach’s police department has blamed the increase in littering on non-Cocoa Beach residents. “As restrictions are becoming more relaxed during this pandemic, the City of Cocoa Beach is beginning to see an influx of day-trippers to our beaches, along with piles of unlawfully discarded trash in their wake. This will not be tolerated,” the Cocoa Beach Police Department wrote in a notice. (2, 3)
This amount of beach litter is much larger than usual, Keep Brevard Beautiful deputy director Bryan Bobbitt told USA Today. “Normally there is an uptick but what we’ve seen this past weekend is way above normal. It’s equivalent to Fourth of July and Memorial Day weekend,” Bobbitt said. (2)
While trash is certainly a blemish on a beach’s landscape, the aesthetic of littering isn’t the only issue. “People need to understand if they leave trash on the ground a bird, fish or sea turtle could be killed by it,” Bobbitt said. “It’s not just a blight issue; it’s an environmental issue all around.” (2)
Litter Crackdown
As a result of so many beachgoers leaving their trash behind, the Cocoa Beach police department plans to step up enforcement of litter laws. Their statement warned that a littering citation would involve a fine of $250. (2, 3)
I need to reallocate critical resources during our peak season to combat litterers, we are no longer asking our visitors to comply with our litter laws, we expect it, and there will be consequences for offenders,” USA Today reported that Chief Scott Rosenfeld said. (2)
But there’s no need for a heavy fine for leaving trash behind. Bobbit encourages people to take both trash and recyclables home with them. “We encourage everyone to come and enjoy the beaches, but pick up after yourself,” he said. (2)
