Cleaning Up Trash from a Paddleboard
Protect what you love and plan an adventure with the main purpose of cleaning up trash from a paddleboard. Bonus: it’s a great way to work on your balancing skills!
Below you will find recommended equipment, tips and resources for cleaning up trash from your board!
Trash Clean-Up on a Paddleboard (SUP)
Where:
Anywhere you paddle!
Depending on the area, you don’t have to paddle far and they are a great way to contribute to the greater good, keep the waterways beautiful.
Most trash collects around fallen trees, beaver dams/lodges, or located near areas such as bridges, footpaths and roads. A lot of litter is also found on the shoreline so you can encourage non-paddlers to join you!
Equipment:
- A plastic bin/laundry bin (watch that the bin doesn’t have large holes. I’ve made this mistake before!)
- A durable reusable grocery bag that holds its shape can work too, but keep in mind these don’t sit as securely on your board
- Garbage bags
- Bring extra bags with you. This way when your bin fills up or you find larger items, it’s easier to contain them and transport them for proper disposal.
- Trash grabber
- I have one similar to this
- A hook on your paddle. Starboard paddles come with a trash hook attachment
- Gloves
- I like Gardena garden gloves. Your hands don’t get sweaty and they are reusable. You can wash them afterwards and are they are useful for gardening at home too.
- Hand Sanitizer
Find everything you need on my Amazon Store.
Tips:
- Pick a calm, low wind day, especially for your first time. It makes collecting trash easier and more pleasant
- Have a plan for the litter’s final destination. Are there items you could recycle or does all the trash go in the same disposal type bin in your municipality? If you’re organizing a large litter clean up be sure to contact your local municipality to advise them of the additional garbage being put in city bins or large item pick up.
- Count and categorize: Go beyond and document it for your area. See below for resources. You can count as you go (on your phone or a piece of paper) or do it post paddle (that’s what I find easiest, it’s one less thing you need to worry about while you’re on the water).
- Bring only essentials. The more you have with you the more difficult it is to manage everything on your board.
- Line your laundry bin with a garbage bag to help transfer the litter and avoid losing the trash in any laundry bin holes.
- Kneeling is usually easiest since you are grabbing the litter from the water surface. Try using your hands with gloves vs a picker. A picker will help you grab objects further from your board but it’s an extra item you’ll need to manage.
- Know your limits. If there is a piece of trash you’d like to pick up but it’s too difficult, don’t risk your safety or spill all the trash you’ve already collected.
- Take water breaks and assess your surroundings. It’s important to stay hydrated and safe. You can get distracted when collecting litter and not realize you’ve drifted too far, or realize the weather has changed. Be realistic when collecting litter and be mindful that your safety is the most important thing!
- Safety first: If you see used needles or other unsafe items it’s better to be safe and leave them.
Going Beyond Picking Up Trash:
There are a ton of great organizations collecting data for educational purposes as well as helping make a bigger impact.
- A Greener Future – Lake Ontario specific
- Great Lakes Great Responsibility – Great Lakes specific
- Planet Patrol
- Marine Debris Tracker
Think of the bigger picture when making purchases and choices in your day-to-day. No one is perfect, but we can all make progress together; such as using a reusable water bottle instead of buying water in plastic bottles or buying quality gear from environmentally-minded companies that will last you a while!
Remember, every little bit helps! Pick up litter anytime you see it!
Have fun with it!
See what you can find and learn more about your area!
4 Comments
Alan Drummond
Too awesome. Very inspiring
Marybeth
Thank you, Alan! I hope to see you out on the water this year!
Nicole Reiss
Excellent post and ideas for safety and a good paddle!
Marybeth
Thanks so much, Nicole! Looking forward to some paddles together in San Fran and on Lake Huron this year!