Green Travel
Welcome to our island paradise, Tybee Island!
Thank you for choosing Tybee as your vacation destination. We think this is the best place on the planet, and your safe enjoyment of our beaches and other amenities is important to us. Our little island is a fragile, finite environment surrounded by sensitive ecosystems. Please be considerate of our natural resources by practicing a few simple “green” habits.
* Use water wisely. All of Tybee’s drinking water comes from the Upper Floridan Aquifer, which is in danger of salt-water intrusion due to overpumping. Here are a few things you can do to help us conserve this precious resource:
* Fully load automatic dishwashers; they use the same amount of water no matter how much is in them.
* Reuse towels; Hang your towels up and reuse them.
Click here for more ideas: water wasters.
*Ride a bike or walk; this helps you and the earth. If you do drive, don’t let your car idle–follow the 15 second rule–if it’s more than 15 seconds, turn your engine off.
* Minimize the use of kitchen sink disposals; they require a lot of water to operate properly.
* Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run to get a cool glass of water.
* Don’t let the water run while shaving, washing your face, or brushing your teeth.
*Buy larger containers of items; if one out of 10 products you bought had little or no packaging, it would eliminate more than 50 pounds of waste per household a year.
* RECYCLE. There should be a green bin in your rental unit. If there isn’t, your host can get one for you. There’s a magnet on the refrigerator that explains our curbside recycling program. Pick up days for each part of the island are listed on the map on the back of the magnet.
*Forgo ATM receipts. If every American skipped cash receipts it would save a roll of paper more than 2 billion feet long.
* There are blue recycling containers for aluminum cans and plastic bottles on the beaches next to the garbage cans. Please dispose of all your trash properly. There are also litterbag dispensers at each crossover for your convenience. Our litter law requires trash to be contained at all times, so be careful not to leave bags, bottles or cans strewn around your chairs—you might get a ticket. Also, please be aware that the storm drains on our streets and sidewalks discharge into the marsh and ocean. Anything you throw onto the ground will end up in the water and could damage the water quality or harm wildlife.
* Special note: If you smoke, please, please please dispose of cigarette butts properly. These will kill wildlife.
* There are signs at the busiest beach access points that explain the Sea Turtle Project, how to distinguish between live and dead sand dollars, and how to escape a rip tide. This is valuable information for you and your environment.
* Cable TV’s Channel 7 has beach rules and special event listings to help you enjoy your time on Tybee.
Please let us know what else we can do to enhance your vacation experience. And remember to think green during your stay on Tybee!
Fresh produce: http://tybeeconcierge.com/2009/01/30/trustee-garden-market/
