Discovery Channel :: News - Earth :: Fla. to Sprinkle Glass on Beaches

Budweiser Beach or maybe Cabernet Cove. Thats what the program described in this Discovery Channel article might lead to. It describes a pilot program to use recycled glass bottles as a source of material for rebuilding beaches.

Faced with the constant erosion of Florida's beaches, Broward County officials are exploring using recycled glass — crushed into tiny grains and mixed with regular sand — to help fill gaps.It's only natural, backers of the idea say, since sand is the main ingredient in glass.

"Basically, what we're doing is taking the material and returning it back to its natural state," said Phil Bresee, Broward's recycling manager.

This gives a whole new meaning to the concept of beach glass.
Needless to say members of the anti-coast crusade predict dire consequences, even if they can't say what they are.

Some people are raising caution flags.

"There's no way that you can predict all the environmental consequences of an action like this," said Dennis Heinemann, a senior scientist with the Ocean Conservancy. "There always will be unforeseen consequences."

Yeah therefore we should accept the known consequences of erosion. Enuf rant.
I suggest we take the program one step further and use Dare County's massive reserves for beach nourishment to provide free beer (in bottles) to all beach goers, requiring them to leave the empty bottles on the beach. We could short circuit the whole permitting process and the design and dredging process. Who knows it might even be good for business and beach goers might not notice just how narrow the beaches really are!

An interesting response to an ongoing problem.

Ciao.