Trash Along Beach Concerns Local Officials

10 Trash Bags Picked Up After Holiday Weekend

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Littered beaches during summer months are a major concern for local officials. 

Beach equipment, trash and glass bottles are often left behind after the weekend and even more so after the holidays. 

The Duluth Police Department ended up with more than 25 pounds of trash after a post 4th of July cleanup on Park Point Beach. 

To make the area a more enjoyable place, officials are asking visitors to pack out what you pack in.

There’s really no reason why we can’t carry it to a garbage can and put it in.  Even if it won’t fit, if you have to set it next to it, that’s better than leaving it at the beach,” said Nick Lepak with the Duluth Bike Patrol.

Many ordinances are in place to help stop pollution like this. 

“If you were to ask on of there people right here what those ordinances were, most of them wouldn’t even know,” said Bill Stauber with the Duluth Bike Patrol. 

But, that enforcement is easier said than done. 

“We could give city ordinance but I would rather educate the people,” said Stauber. 

It’s simple. No alcohol. No glass. No fires and the park closes at 10.

After a week of picking up 10 bags of cigarette butts, plastic bags, beer bottles and coolers, officials say it’s time to respect the rules. 

“It’s a city park,” said Lepak. 

Officials also say trash left on the beach can also harm our water filters and affect the city water we drink.