Be part of the solution, not the problem By MATT KAPKO Half Moon Bay Review September 15, 2004 When Susan Danielson looks out on the San Mateo County coast she sees a trash heap buried within a magnificent landscape. "It's like a mirage - when you're not looking it blends in, but when you're looking it's obvious," she said. Unlike some, Danielson isn't just sitting idle as the situation worsens. As northern program director of Save Our Shores, she's helping coordinate the 20th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day throughout San Mateo County this Saturday. Despite years of efforts and increased education and awareness, the future of California's world-famous beaches looks grim. When Danielson began working with Save Our Shores four years ago she expected the situation to improve. It hasn't. "I'm not seeing any relief," she said. More than 600,000 pounds of trash was picked up last year alone throughout California's coastal regions. That mass of rubbish was comprised mostly of plastics, which increase each year by 30 to 40 percent, Danielson said. Cigarette butts, which take at least a decade to decompose but leave behind many lingering toxins, come in at a close second. Because she's seen the good efforts of so few constantly overwhelmed by the misdeeds of many, Danielson is convinced that pollution and trash on California's beaches will never go away without a major shift in social consciousness. "We're a throw-away society," she said. "We have to think about how we're living our lives. People can decide for themselves if they're going to be part of the problem or part of the solution." It comes down to the choices people make day in and day out, she says. Rarely do consumers consider the environmental impact of their spending dollars when shopping, but that's what is needed for any significant improvements to be realized, she added. "In a capitalist society it's all going to come from consumer demand," Danielson said. The tremendous amount of waste modern societies create will eventually overwhelm the environment, she said. For instance, plastics are entering the food chain and causing irreparable harm, she said. "It's only a matter of time before we find these things on our dinner plates," she said. The worst spots on the Coastside are Montara State Beach and Surfer's Beach, Danielson said. "Montara is a mess at the moment in terms of how it's being disrespected environmentally," Danielson said. Too many beachgoers are simply leaving their mess behind, she said. Beer bottles, cans, plastic wrappers and even roof tiles (used when constructing beach fires) are consistently found at the beach. "It's that time of year," she said. And Mary DeLong agrees. She is confronting the same problems at Surfer's Beach. "It's just such a frightful mess, especially after Labor Day," DeLong said of the famous surf spot. She's volunteering this Saturday as a beach captain at Surfer's Beach, something she's done at a variety of locations for at least 10 years. "I'm just an ocean person and like to keep it clean," she said. "I just feel a responsibility to the place I live." She'll be coordinating the clean-up efforts with a team of other volunteers. All are invited to join the group at 9 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Coronado Avenue and Highway 1 in El Granada. Home