Any dedicated beach cleaner knows that far too many plastic sand toys get left behind on the beach. In fact, it’s rare not to come across at least one during a walk along the shoreline: a plastic shovel half-buried in the sand, a broken bucket near a collapsing sandcastle, or a dolphin mold lying among the cobblestones.
Plastic sand toys left behind on the beach
What many people may not realize is that toys left behind—whether intentionally or accidentally—can be swept into the ocean when the tide comes in. Once in the marine environment, these colorful playthings break down into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually becoming microplastics—or even smaller nanoplastics.
Could some of these colorful bits be from broken down sand toys?
But there is a simple way to help keep these toys out of the ocean.
Over the years, Surfrider San Diego beach cleanup volunteers and others have discussed the possibility of building and installing sand toy collection/borrow boxes on local beaches. These ''take a toy, leave a toy'' bins are common on the East Coast, but few exist in California — and until now, there hasn’t been one in San Diego County. Conversations with city staff members in Oceanside led nowhere until Jayme Timberlake, the City's Coastal Zone Program Administrator, heard about the idea and wanted to help.
Not long after conversations with Jayme began, Lauren Silver, a Girl Scout and high school junior, emailed the San Diego Chapter to ask for assistance with her Gold Award project — a sand toy borrow box!
The Chapter’s Beach Cleanup Coordinator, Gabriel Racca, connected Lauren with Rise Above Plastics (RAP) Co-Lead Janis Jones, who agreed to be her official advisor. How could she not? Lauren’s project was exactly what many had envisioned but hadn’t been able to achieve.
Lauren drafted a detailed plan and got approval before building and painting the wooden box to resemble a treasure chest. She also designed the sign and collaborated with a printer to fabricate it on metal. Both turned out even better than anyone imagined.
Lauren and the treasure box
Lauren’s next step is to visit elementary school classrooms to inform students about her project, explain how to use the box, teach them about the impact of plastic pollution, and inspire them to care about protecting the ocean.
As soon as the box was put in place and the sign was posted, families gathered around. Moms expressed their gratitude, and children smiled as they picked out toys to play with. Beachgoers were overheard saying things like: “What a great idea,” “Now when I come to Oceanside for vacation, I won’t have to buy beach toys!” and “I always find toys when I’m here. Now I have a proper place to leave them. Thank you!”
Councilmember Eric Joyce and Lauren work together to post the sign
Janis and other volunteers—including Dawn Casillas of One Clean Beach, who’s passionate about her early morning beach cleanups—will regularly check the box and collect data on the number of toys in the box, whether litter has been dropped in the box, or if the box has been damaged. This information will help determine if any adjustments are needed and will provide evidence of the box’s effectiveness, making it easier to advocate for placing similar boxes along the coast in the future.
Now, children can grab a toy or two on their way to their spot on the beach and drop them off on their way back to the car after a long day of play. Couples walking hand in hand at sunset who find a toy in the sand can place it in the box for a toddler to enjoy the next morning. Families with more than enough toys at home can donate theirs to the box for others to use.
Not only will Lauren's treasure box reduce plastic sand toy waste, it will also raise awareness about plastic pollution, promote coastal stewardship — and bring joy, simply by being there in the sand.
Children eagerly picking out toys for their day at the beach
Oceanside's beach toy borrow box is located on The Strand across from Betty's's Lot (parking lot # 24) and south of the children's play structure near the Oceanside Pier. It’s the perfect spot, thanks to the high foot traffic along the sidewalk and between the parking lot and the beach. Early observations suggest that this inaugural box is already making a positive impact. Hopefully, it’s the first of many more to come!
You can find Lauren's Treasure Box pinned on the map HERE.
If you’re inspired and want to advocate for a sand toy borrow box in your beach community, please contact Janis at rap@sandiego.surfrider.org for more information.