This past Sunday, April 22, 2018 was Earth Day. The first Earth Day was held in 1970 and it is now a global movement “dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally change human attitude and behavior about plastics.”
Plastics are forever, but what can we do NOW? As individuals and as business owners, we can audit our own plastic use and when possible, stop using plastic bags and straws, styrofoam containers, and so much more. In addition to using paper and corn-based products, Blue Water Grill is committed to providing straws only upon request. We will be switching to paper straws as soon as they become available from our suppliers. The fact that they are backordered is awesome news! The ‘Skip the Straw’ campaign is sweeping across the U.S. and is becoming the ‘norm’ for Outer Banks restaurants. So, what is the big deal with straws? Unfortunately, they are proving deadly and are one of the top 10 marine debris items found on our beaches. 500 million straws are used EACH DAY in the U.S. alone – enough to circle the planet more than 2 1/2 times! While eliminating straws is not the ‘cure-all’, together, it is one step we can make to help eliminate plastics.
Blue Water Grill also works with the North Carolina Coastal Federation to recycle our oyster shells. We shuck a lot of oysters and those shells can be put to good use! Not only are oysters delicious and one of our favorite foods to prepare at Blue Water, they are vital to our marine habitats and provide clean water filtration. For additional information on the oyster shell recycling process, please visit this link: http://www.nccoast.org/protect-the-coast/restore/oyster-habitat/
Through the Surfrider Foundation, the Blue Water crew has adopted the Hargrove Beach Access in South Nags Head. We schedule beach cleans regularly and encourage anyone who would like to join our efforts, to please come out and lend a hand! Our next scheduled beach clean is this Thursday, April 26th at 9:30 AM.
Outer Banks residents and visitors appreciate our beautiful ocean, beaches, and the animals and vegetation that inhabit them. We are ocean minded and can work together to preserve our planet for future generations.
(Turtle photo courtesy of Cory Godwin Productions. Photographed in Grand Cayman in February 2018. www.corygodwin.com )