Leave No Trace: Beach Edition
During my initial meeting with ODNR staff, a theme that surfaced repeatedly was the principle of “Leave No Trace,” particularly in the context of trail management. Staff also emphasized that beach litter remains one of the largest challenges they face. Looking into the concept further, I explored the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics’ seven principles, which encourage individuals to consider how their actions affect others, wildlife, and the long-term enjoyment of outdoor spaces before even entering them (Leave No Trace, 2018).
Adapting this framework to waterway and beach conservation, I developed a conjecture for a beach amenity rental system that incorporates waste accountability. Under this model, beach-goers would rent umbrellas, chairs, or other amenities by placing a security deposit down on their designated space. Along with their rental, they would be provided with waste management tools, such as bags or bins. When leaving, if the beach is left cleaner than when they arrived, the security deposit would be fully reimbursed. If not, the funds would be retained by management to support maintenance.
While this system aims to reduce litter and gamify stewardship, it also relies on limited resources: staff available to check spaces, transportable and reliable disposal methods, and an efficient system for deposit collection and reimbursement.
References.
Lange, A. (2025, September 26). Applying “Leave No Trace” To Waterways [Review of Applying “Leave No Trace” To Waterways]. Ghost; Ghost. https://capstonenews.ghost.io/ghost/#/editor/post/68d214be8bedea000167a4c5
The 7 principles - leave no trace center for outdoor ethics. (2018). Leave No Trace. https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/
This conjecture draws on the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics’ “7 Principles” (~40%), my own adaptation of the framework to waterway and beach conservation, including the design of a deposit-based rental system (50%), and AI support (10%) in refining language, structuring the narrative to ~200 words, and highlighting resource considerations. All interpretations remain the responsibility of the author.
