Spring Break in San Diego, lasts about 6 weeks. For once, I didn’t pick up toys.. probably because my little wagon can only hold so much and wet, sandy towels are heavy! Wet sandy blankets are heavy. From March 18 to March 31, I washed and rescued 199 textiles, including Blankets (13) Towels (51) Clothes (77) Socks (40) Underwear, (threw-away) Sheets (4) Hats (8) Tennis Shoes (4). This does not count the 11 flip flop pairs or trashed single shoe (not washed) items left behind in trash which included, really bad towels, socks and clothes. 13 days which averages to 15 textiles leaking micro-fibers into our ocean. This is only the the ones I washed. This is only in 1 mile of beach front. Quite a few of these items were rescued out of trash cans.. yes, they just throw them away.
I spent out of pocket (laundromat) $60 USD and fortunately my neighbor adds in a few not so bad items into her wash. What does this tell you about society?
Underwear and socks are difficult to reuse. These go to the Goodwill for rags or to be resold. I love the Goodwill, they take everything.
It makes me sick to my stomach.. so many people in need could use any of these items.
We are not even in Summer yet! This will start up again after Memorial Day and continue through October.
After these last two weeks, I have decided to focus the rest of the year on the Big Stuff, the beach trash that the walkers can’t carry as they take their daily walks. Rescue from the trash and beach, wash and reuse along with other tidal items. The new focus of the year.