Economy
How Trash-Covered Beaches End Up Costing Everyone Money
In California, washed-up coastal garbage is having a big economic impact for Orange County, says a new report.
It's well known that garbage in the ocean is screwing with animals in any number of ways. But its nasty impact extends past the shoreline into our communities, draining beachgoers' wallets by tens of millions of dollars each summer.
That's the conclusion of a new economic report about Orange County from NOAA's Marine Debris Program and consulting firm Industrial Economics. They found that local residents' top concern when choosing a beach—right next to water quality—was the presence of washed-up debris like plastic and industrial lumber. As a result, many people choose to drive longer distances to find more pristine beaches, racking up higher expenses due to gas, tolls, parking, and lost time.