Heading into the Independence Day holiday weekend? Officials want beachgoers to remember a viral videotaken24 hours after Memorial day, before throwing their trash anywhere but the trash can.
Kendrick Rowland had never been to Siesta Beach before. He and his family packed a cooler full of food. The bags inside will be used for trash when they are finished.
"Nothing is fun about tarnishing something that is as beautiful," he said. "I just can't wrap my mind around that."
It is this viral video after Memorial Day he is talking about.
It is also why Sarasota County is putting more trash cans out and giving away free bright yellow trash bags to help contain the nearly two tons of garbage they pick up on holiday weekends.
You may wonder if that extra effort by the county to keep the beach clean is working. People are still not paying attention to the signs Sarasota put up. ABC Action News found a cup was left on table. That is a perfect example of what the County wants put into trash cans. Not only is it garbage ugly, it is dangerous for wildlife.
"They typically see it as food and they ingest it and it may be fatal for them," said Wendi Crisp, a program coordinator for Keep Sarasota County Beautiful.
Rowland hopes people will play by the rules.
"Florida has always been a nice place to come visit for me," Rowland said. "I wanted to be the same thing for my kids because this something that can go on for generation to generation."
For more information on how you can participate in the Liberty Litter Cleanup to keep beaches clean, click here.
