Crystal Beach, Texas—a place where sunrises over the Gulf glisten, laughter floats on the breeze, and families build memories in the sand. But sometimes, there’s something else left behind: trash. Empty beer cans shimmering like sad little trophies of a party gone too far, chip bags playing tag in the wind, and the occasional rogue flip-flop, forever separated from its sole mate.
It begs the question: Who left this here? If you’ve ever walked the beach after a busy weekend, chances are you’ve asked that question more than once, maybe with a muttered curse under your breath. Maybe even shouted it to the sea like a dramatic actor in a soap opera. You wouldn’t be alone.
Somewhere between the last s’more and the dash to beat traffic, trash is forgotten—or worse, ignored. We’d love to believe it’s all accidental, that no one really means to leave their garbage behind, but let’s face it: some folks treat the outdoors like a giant, sandy fast food tray return. Out of sight, out of mind.
There are also the car tossers. You know the type. Windows down, a drink cup airborne like it’s auditioning for the Blue Angels. The “it’s just one” crowd. Unfortunately, those “just ones” add up fast when 50,000 people visit Crystal Beach during a summer weekend.
Thankfully, this story isn’t just about finger-pointing. It’s also about action. Crystal Beach may have its share of litterbugs, but it also has heroes in sun hats, armed with grabbers and trash bags.
Local volunteers, church groups, students, and even visitors come together throughout the year for organized beach cleanups. Events like Adopt-A-Beach and Trash Bash bring hundreds of people to the sand, not for selfies, but for service. And let’s not forget our local beach-loving neighbors who pick up trash on their daily walks, quietly doing the dirty work without fanfare.
The county also pitches in. Trash barrels are spaced out along the beach (though somehow, mysteriously, the trash often doesn’t make it in). Most of these barrels are picked up twice a week—more during peak season. Still, they can overflow when crowds surge and common sense retreats. It’s like trying to use a thimble to empty a bathtub.
There’s a funny thing about trash. Once you start noticing it, you see it everywhere. But the flip side is also true—once you start picking it up, others take notice. It’s contagious. In the best way.
Crystal Beach is a place of joy, escape, and natural beauty. Let’s keep it that way. Not just for us, but for the pelicans, the fish, the dolphins, the next generation of sandcastle architects—and yes, even that lonely flip-flop, waiting to be reunited with its better half.
Because the only thing we should be leaving behind at the beach… are footprints.
