‘Cash for Trash’ back in effect

Special to the PRESS

Once again, Cameron County Parks and Recreation will implement a Cash for Trash Return Refund Program.

The program will begin March 11 through September 9 and will operate on the Cameron County beaches north of access 5. This program is intended to address the negative impacts of domestic trash left behind by visitors of county beaches. This program began as a pilot project and has been successful in helping keep the beaches clean and educating the public about the unsanitary environment and the detriment to human and marine life created by leaving trash behind.

As a result of the Cash for Trash Return Refund Program, since the summer of 2010, tons of trash has been removed from the north county beaches. The Cameron County Commissioners’ Court has supported this endeavor since its establishment. Precinct 1 Commissioner Sofia C. Benavides stated, “This program has been a great success since its inception. I want to thank the public for their cooperation and continued participation in ensuring the preservation of our beaches for our future generations to enjoy.” She added, “I look forward to making the Cash for Trash Return Refund Program a permanent part of our parks maintenance program, and I would like to expand the program to other county beach areas.”

Cameron County Parks have supported other successful methods to combat the litter problem, such as the Texas Adopt A Beach Guardian Program, Valley Proud Environment Council-Captain Crab Clean Beach Program and a County Park’s sponsored Code Enforcement Program.

In addition to the general beach user fee of $5.00, Cameron County Park Staff will collect an additional $5.00, which will be a trash bag deposit for every vehicle entering only county beach accesses 5 and 6. An empty trash bag will be provided with a receipt attached to the bag. As the visitors exit the beach, county staff will refund $5.00 in return for their receipt and county issued bag full of trash. The refund will only be issued for that same day, if the bag is full and returned before 7 p.m.

Trash left behind is not only unsightly, but is harmful to our environment, marine and wildlife habitat and more particularly humans. We ask the public, and the users to respect public lands and observe all state and county litter laws.

Read this story in the March 14 edition of the Port Isabel-South Padre Press, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2013/03/14/cash-for-trash-back-in-effect/

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