Let’s make a case for Earth.

As we embark into our spring break, the allure of beaches and day drinking is hard to ignore. Being disoriented, sweaty and sandy all day is, I’m sure, very fun.

But before you take off toward the south and party for a week straight, I have one simple request for you:

Please, pick up your trash.

There is nothing uglier than looking at a beach a few days after the spring breakers have left. Crushed Bud Lite cans and red Solo cups do not grow out of the ground like flowers. They have to be left behind by irresponsible folks, like us, who don’t know how to pick up after themselves.

Folks swarm the beaches, places that are meant to home for wildlife, and leave behind piles of waste. The wildlife that lives there deserves better than our trash.

Think of the waves that’ll grab that trash once it rises, take it back into the ocean and affect the fish, dolphins and other aquatic life. Imagine, for instance, that you’re just chilling at home watching Netflix and an old beer can makes its way into your popcorn bowl. Gross, right?

So as difficult as it may seem in an inebriated state to pick up after ourselves, we have to do it. Most beaches provide trash cans, so there’s really no excuse. One good thing to do is to take a trash bag or two with you when you go, leave it at your spot, then clean up when you’re ready to go. It may seem like a lot, but it’s the least we can do for the beach and the environment.

Something to keep in mind is this:

Leave the place better than you found it. Yes the age-old adage about campsites applies here too. Making sure waste is where it needs to be is the best thing we can do to ensure we can keep these beaches. After all, what’s spring break without a beach?

If we keep up this trend of leaving beaches looking like landfills, there won’t be any more spring breaks in Miami. So let’s do the right thing, and make sure the beauty of nature stays that way. After all, spending spring break in Idaho or Wyoming doesn’t sound too exciting.

Kellie Nock is a columnist. Contact her at [email protected].