ONSLOW COUNTY, NC— Onslow County’s four public beach accesses at North Topsail Beach have a new feature – the ‘BlueTube.’ Each bright blue container holds plastic bags and promotes the cultivation of clean beaches and the protection of our natural home. Beachgoers can take a bag, collect trash and throw it away in the nearby garbage receptacle. Visitors with empty plastic bags can deposit them into the tube for reuse, thus continuing the plastic bag cycle of the BlueTube. Through a partnership between Onslow County Solid Waste, Keep Onslow Beautiful, and Onslow County Parks and Recreation, the BlueTubes were sponsored and installed in time for summer and the beginning of tourist season at North Topsail Beach. Lisa Rider, Solid Waste Assistant Director, said, “The BlueTubes are a creative avenue for folks to recycle plastic retail bags while keeping our beaches and oceans free of debris.”

You will find the BlueTubes at the four Onslow County Parks and Recreation beach access sites:

1. Beach Access One- 1759 New River Inlet Rd., North Topsail Beach

2. Beach Access Two- 2950 Island Drive, North Topsail Beach

3. Beach Access Three- St. Regis Hotel, North Topsail Beach

4. Beach Access Four- 484 New River Inlet Rd., North Topsail Beach

A total of 10 BlueTubes will be installed over the next few week with several more added to the beach accesses and at Onslow County Parks.
In addition to the BlueTubes, Onslow County Solid Waste and Keep Onslow Beautiful will help host the 11th Annual Earth and Surf Fest at North Topsail Beach on Saturday, July 8, 2017. Earth & Surf Fest is family event with a mission to connect our community with environmental awareness. For more information on events and registration, visit: www.earthandsurffest.com.

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