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You’ve seen them at your favorite fishing spots, the white periscopes lurking near the piers or shorelines usually attached to a pole or upright on a pier. These are the monofilament recycling tubes used to reclaim fishing line to keep it from entangling or causing other harm to our marine animals. But wait, you just said monofilament, right? Yes, not all fishing lines are created equal! Actually, not all fishing lines are the same. Monofilament refers to plastic type single strand line. This includes fluorocarbon line. There is a different type of line also commonly used, called braid or braided line. This line looks and feels different. Braided line is not clear or tinted, you can feel the ridges and strands in it when you run it through your fingers. Monofilament and fluorocarbon are very smooth and feel a bit stretchy compared to braid which is very strong and not flexible. But why the lesson on fishing line? Well, there is no current recycling program for braided line. It is recommended that braided line is cut up into 12-inch sections and then placed in the garbage. The experts also ask to cut it up, so it does not become an entanglement issue for animals or equipment used in the solid waste facilities. Monofilament recycling or collection is important for two reasons: Mono has a 600-year breakdown life span All fishing line left behind is a major contributor to bird, fish, and marine mammal entanglements. Berkley is the only company at this moment that can recycle monofilament line. The line has to be hook and tackle free and clean for them to accept it. Please help us by removing your tackle from the line before placing it in our containers. Recycling - Berkley® Fishing (berkley-fishing.com) Captain Al Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful

For many of us, our first instinct when we see a bee is to run away in terror, hoping not to get stung. I have personally done this several times, but now understand the importance of bees and how to distinguish between them. Bees are one of the most important creatures on Earth, therefore it is vital to know the different types. The common type of bees that live in North America include honey bees, bumble bees, solitary bees, and carder bees. Honey bees are the most common type on our continent. They are known for their honeycomb-like structure and are important pollinators for fruits and vegetables. Honey bees (female ones) can sting but they mainly do so when they feel threatened. Bumblebees are known for their black and yellow furry bodies and large heads. They are amazing pollinators too, helping to keep our ecosystem balanced by pollinating plants in nature and commercial crops. The differing types of bees are conducive to our ecosystem. Populations of bees are declining due to various factors like exposure to pesticides and habitat loss. Bees are vital to us because they provide ⅓ of the food supply here on Earth (due to pollination) and are the sole producers of honey. So next time you see a bee, remember to “bee” kind!

Let’s show some love to our planet this Valentine’s Day! It’s time to break the traditions of gifting store bought cards, roses, boxes of chocolate, and stuffed teddy bears. All of these pose serious sustainability threats on our environment just from the production of the products alone (not even factoring in the tons of waste associated with this day). So what is the solution to celebrating this holiday? Do not fret! There are multiple ways to “go green”, so to speak, for Valentine’s Day. Some eco-friendly gift ideas include gifting a potted plant, fair trade chocolate or jewelry, a soy candle, or even handmade soap. You can always make a gift yourself or re-gift items you may have just laying around your house. A huge part of Valentine’s Day includes going out to eat. If you are set on going out, try eating and supporting local businesses. One of the most sustainable things you could do on this day would be preparing a romantic dinner at home. This would truly create an intimate atmosphere for you and your loved ones, and the planet would love you for it! Here are some links to fun craft ideas that you can gift this Valentine's Day: Handmade cards - https://woodlarkblog.com/diy-pressed-flower-butterfly-heart-valentines/ More Ideas - Creative Valentine’s Day Ideas | Sustainable Crafts For Your Love (homesteading.com)

Join us on July 5th to help become part of the solution! REGISTER HERE ON OUR EVENTBRITE: Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful’s After the 4th Cleanup Tickets, Tue, Jul 5, 2022 at 8:00 AM | Eventbrite We all enjoy our time celebrating America’s birthday with picnics, libations and sparklers, but the time comes when we must clean up after the party. Join your fellow Tampa Bay residents in helping to protect our waterways from becoming an explosion of unsightly litter. WHEN: Date: Monday, July 5th Check-in: 8:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. Cleanup Time: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Tag us and be featured on our stories! FB: @KeepTampaBayBeautiful Instagram: @KeepTBB #AfterFireworksCleanup #KeepTampaBayBeautiful #KeepTBB #DoBeautifulThings #TrashFreeWaters REGISTER HERE ON OUR EVENTBRITE: Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful’s After the 4th Cleanup Tickets, Tue, Jul 5, 2022 at 8:00 AM | Eventbrite