Tuesday, November 3, 2026
On Sand Dollar Island, a sea turtle metal cage washed down from the top of the berm.
Volunteers Nathaniel O’Donnell and daughter Bria pulled this metal frame from the water’s edge.
Beach and Coastal Resources Advisory Committee’s August Beach cleanup with sponsors Mark and Sarah Morze of iTrip. Thanks to all the volunteers who collected over 60 pounds of litter, mostly plastic.
A monofilament recycling bin for used fishing line is being used as a plastic bottle bin!
Some 20 volunteers gathered at South Beach for the monthly beach cleanup on August 17, organized by Marco’s Beach and Coastal Resources Advisory Committee. The volunteers picked up over 60pounds of litter, most of which was plastic. A big thank you to iTrip, the August Beach Sponsor. iTrip is owned and operated by Mark and Sarah Morze. Mark is also a board member of the Beach and Coastal Resources Advisory Committee and the organizer of the monthly beach cleanup.
Common plastic items found on Marco’s beach during the August cleanup were single-use plastic grocery bags, plastic beverage bottles, plastic food wrappers in all sizes, and deflated mylar balloons. Most of these were found at the edge of the dune vegetation.
According to Ocean Conservancy’s Director, Nicholas Mallos, “Over the years, we have seen plastic creeping into the top 10 list, displacing items like rope, beverage cans, and paper bags.”
Deflated mylar balloons – which are nondegradable -were found with their ribbons snagged by the dune vegetation. According to the Ocean Conservation Society, “Balloons used for entertainment, when released, pose a serious danger to wildlife, including seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals. They can be easily mistaken for food as they float on the surface of the water, and seabirds can become entangled in the balloon strings.
Florida law prohibits the intentional release of balloons inflated with a gas lighter than air as of July 1, 2024. The legislation reclassifies intentional balloon releases as a form of littering. An intentional release is classified as a noncriminal infraction and treated similarly to littering, with a civil fine of $150. Exemptions to the state law include balloons released by governmental agencies for scientific or meteorological purposes, such as weather balloons. Hot-air balloons are also exempt, provided they are recovered after their launch. Additionally, balloons released indoors are not subject to this state-level ban.
The law also includes an exemption for young children regarding penalties. Floridians aged six years or younger are exempt from the fines associated with violating the balloon release prohibition.
If you still would like to use balloons to celebrate an event, make sure you dispose of them properly once the event is over.
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