Environmental activist organizes shore clean-ups
Environmental activist Bob Lieberman wears many hats, but may be best known for launching beach cleanups both locally and globally.
The retired toy company executive started the Fort Lauderdale Beach Sweep last year and theHollywood Beach Cleanup about 10 years ago. Both typically attract more than 200 people on the second Saturday of each month.
Lieberman is aworld traveler who has sparked cleanups reaching across Florida to HongKong, he said.
“My goal is to start a beach cleanup everywhere and also in parks,” theHarbor Beach resident said. “I have a long life in front of me. I just turned 64.”
Years spent scouring shorelines have produced glass, needles and once a “dead person,” he said. Fish turn up mummified in hooks and lines.
But Public EnemyNo. 1 is cigarette butts. Two-thousand can be picked up during the four-hour long Fort Lauderdale Beach Sweep. Many are thrown by smokers on boats and cruise ships, he said.
“Thirty-two percent of all beach litter is cigarette butts. The filter never goes away. When a fish eats it, the fish dies,” Lieberman said.
Plastic follows closely as destructive debris. Marine life confuses translucent bags for a food source.
“We protect turtle nests, butwe don’t protect turtles by allowing those bags to go out into the ocean,” he said.
Lieberman operates the cleanups under his umbrella organizationMetamorphosis. It also takes part in the annual International Coastal Cleanup. Lieberman also serves on the local board of Tobacco Free Florida and partners with other nonprofits including Bikes 4 Kids.
He recently took over Trash 2 Treasure with SusieQWood, an environmental fine artist. Plans are underway to up-cycle found items into art projects for youngsters.
“It’smy thing, trash-formation,” Wood said.
Lieberman’s latest launch is theHarbor BeachKeepers near Port Everglades. It will take place on the second Sunday of the month from 7 to 9 a.m. He covers all costs for supplies and invites “people whowant to give back and pay it forward,” he said.