Southold Town Board Looking to Solve Littering Problem on Local Beaches

The Town of Southold is currently looking for a solution after the topic of littering on local beaches, which was discussed during the work session meeting on Tuesday.

Town Supervisor Scott Russell said that he has received several complaints nearly every day regarding the litter left on the beaches.

“The Town isn’t try to stop the use of the beaches,” Russell said. “We are trying to stop the abuses.”

According to Russell, the main problem is not local fishermen and other beach-goers, but rather when large groups of over ten people come to Town and set up camps on the beaches.

“Pitching tents, building fires and creating makeshift bathrooms (usually on private property) then leaving their trash and waste behind presents a challenge that the town has to address,” he said. “We are not proposing new laws and don’t need them. We are trying to put together a collaborative effort to enforce current rules already on the books.“

According to Russell, the problem is spread out along the “miles and miles” of beach the Town has and the Town is putting together a comprehensive and sustained effort to combat it.

Ideally, according to Russell, it would be a joint effort between the local police department, park district representatives and community members.

“There is no easy solution and we are looking at all available options,” he said.

The New York’s Public Trust Doctrine ensures that “everybody has the right to walk the shores of all the beaches below the mean high water mark,” but does not grant the right to use the shores as a “doormat to wipe your feet on,” Russell said.

“We respect the goals of the Public Trust Doctrine and will defend it,” he said. “Respect, however, is a two way street.”