Saturday May 9th, Nye Beach in Newport, 10 to 1, check in from 10 to 11:15 (this event will be canceled if it rains).
Have you wondered about those colorful little bits we see more and more of in the sand? If you look closely they are everywhere and perhaps you've been out on a day when the rack lines were thick with them. Unfortunately most are plastic - not pretty stones. Plastic never really goes away, instead it's breaking down into these tiny fragments. You also find lots of mermaids' tears, these are particularly sad as they have never been anything useful even for a day. Technically know as nurdles, they are pre-production microplastic resin pellets.
Why do we care -These bits are prone to absorbing contaminates in the water, and are easily swallowed by marine life. This issue is now a key focus of scientific concern, with some researchers worried they could end up in the food chain.
The Sifting Saturday events are about going after those small yet significant bits. We will be experimenting with different methods and brainstorming new ideas. Bring gloves, colanders with small holes and buckets if you have them. If not we'll have some to share.
Nye Beach, 10am to 1pm, check in from 10 to 11:15 (this event will be canceled if it rains). Bring your mug for coffee or chocolate. For more information - contact beachcleanups@newport.or.surfrider.org
This will be an ongoing event the second Saturday of each month through September.
Here is a short video about this issue.