How BEBOT is Transforming Beach Cleanups in Lake Tahoe
Written By: Katy Jo Caringer | Wednesday, June 19th, 2024.
BEBOT made its North Shore debut on Monday, June 17 at Kings Beach with the first full beach cleanup of the season. With the help of residents, a local volunteer cleanup group, and Tahoe Blue Crews, we achieved our largest cleanup yet, collecting a record amount of litter.
BEBOT cleaning Kings Beach on Monday, 6/17 with Keep Tahoe Blue & North Tahoe Community Alliance. Photo by: Katy Jo Caringer
This solar- and electric-powered robot unearthed hundreds of pieces of litter from above and beneath the sand, while nearly a dozen volunteers helped the cleanup on foot, collecting cigarette butts, plastic wrappers, and bottle caps from the bushes and the surrounding parking lot.
BEBOT is expanding its beach cleaning initiatives this summer to cover more public beaches and litter hotspots, aiming to clean one million square feet of shoreline. Thanks to BEBOT's effectiveness in reducing recreation impacts and raising awareness, the North Tahoe Community Alliance has funded our expanded operations through the TOT-TBID Dollars at Work program. This visitor tax supports innovative projects like BEBOT, benefiting residents, businesses, and visitors.
Learn more about the TOT-TBID Dollars At Work Program and how it’s funding beach cleanups around Lake Tahoe. Photo by: Katy Jo Caringer
BEBOT leaves behind a perfectly clean beach that beach goers are almost hesitant to walk on, with soft sand free of any visible debris. It creates a ripple effect of positive awareness, encouraging visitors to keep the beaches as clean as they found them.
"Our ultimate goal is to embody the message 'This is how you Tahoe’ inspiring visitors to leave the beaches better than they found them. By initiating this conversation with visitors ahead of the 4th of July celebrations, our aim is to increase their mindfulness regarding their behavior and the impact of their actions on this cherished environment.”
ECO-CLEAN Solutions is thrilled to be collaborating with graduate students from the Desert Research Institute to develop a new standardized data collection method. This team, comprised of students from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and Tahoe Meadows Community College (TMCC), will track litter data throughout the summer. This will provide quantitative insights on types of litter and trends that will inform litter solutions in the future.
Volunteers sorting litter picked up at Kings Beach. Photo by: Katy Jo Caringer
Finding a balance between a thriving economy and sustainable tourism will take the collective action of everyone who enjoys this place. With the community’s continued dedication paired with innovative solutions like BEBOT, Lake Tahoe can remain a pristine destination for generations to come.