Being eco-friendly is becoming more and more important.
Hilton Head Island encourages visitors and locals to do what they can protect the environment. Here are some eco-friendly tips.
Reduce Plastic
Starting in November 2018, retailers in Beaufort County stopped providing single-use plastic bags to customers. Throughout the Island, you will notice a reduction of use of plastic straws and Styrofoam to-go containers.
Get out on the Pathways
On a 12-mile long and 5-mile wide Island, there are 6 miles of bike lanes, 117 miles of shared-use pathways and 24% of the arterial streets have bikes paths or paved shoulders. Leave the car parked, use less gas and get closer to nature on our Island pathways.
Paddle on the Water
Studies have identified unintentional and unexpected consequences to the environment associated with boating. A great way to get out on the water from a different perspective, without using a motor, is to paddle! Besides being a great workout and a lot of fun, kayaking and standup paddleboarding are environmentally safe ways to enjoy and travel our oceans, lagoons, creeks and rivers. Several tours are offered in the area that focus on Lowcountry wildlife.
Oyster Shell Recycling
We encourage local restaurants and residents to work with the Oyster Recycling and Reef Build Initiative. Please collect oyster shells and safely return them to the water. Make sure to drop shells off at recycling sites. Do not throw them into the water, because they might need to be treated for contamination.
Leave Beaches Clean
Annual beach sweeps have been conducted on Hilton Head since 1988, but please leave the beaches as clean as, or cleaner than you found them. On your way to and from the beaches, take a moment to locate the nearest recycling bins or trash cans available.
