A Technical Note on Beach Cleaning Beach Cleaning Cleaning Versus Deep Cleaning Technical Note

A Technical Note On Beach Cleaning www.ecocoast.com Beach Cleaning Cleaning Versus Deep Cleaning Technical Note

In the beach cleaning world, not all choice. You should look for a self- surface debris will be raised to the machines are equal. There is a propelled or tractor-towed surface following tidal changes or significant difference in machine, capable of using multiple foot traffic. This is a common trap performance between beach sieving screens and a deep for beach operators using small cleaning machines, which is operating depth. These machines raking machines who find they important to understand before operate by removing sand and need to continually clean their starting a beach cleaning project. debris from up to 120mm below beaches. This is where smaller the surface, screening all debris machines cost more in the long- Small walk-behind models tend to and loading it into a hopper while term to provide a lower quality and rake the sand, meaning that they returning the screened and lesser volume clean. Larger self- touch only the upper surface of the aerated sand to the beach. While propelled or tractor-towed beach sand and barely remove any these machines are costlier to cleaners obtain a deep clean and debris. If your objective is to lightly operate than the smaller raking cover a larger volume of area per aerate the sand, or if you have a models, their ability to clean deep hour, meaning less frequent cleans beach with only a small amount of and remove large debris means are required and lower long-term surface debris or a small area, they can cover a greater area and cost. these models can be an are a more cost-effective long- economical choice. However, term solution. Larger models are ideal for post- majority of beaches require more construction or pre-opening than just raking of the surface to Most beaches do not require projects where there may be a obtain a safe and clean beach. continual daily cleaning if they are large amount of construction screened properly. While smaller debris, dredged coral or low- If your objective is to screen out raking machines do provide the quality sand. For ongoing small and large debris both above appearance of a debris-free beach maintenance, these models can be and below the surface, a more immediately following cleaning, used less frequently than smaller robust beach cleaner, which gives they commonly require more walk-behind models. a truly deep clean, is the best frequent cleaning, because below-

Ecocoas t • CALL +971 4 885 3944 • EMAIL [email protected] Beach Cleaning Comparison Raking Versus Screening Machines

Walk-behind Self-propelled

The beach cleaner on the left is a small low-cost walk- behind beach cleaning machine. The machine on the right is a self-propelled beach cleaner that features the latest lift and screen technology.

As you can see from the photo on the left, the small walk- behind beach cleaning machine barely removes and transports any debris along the screen. It basically rakes the beach, i.e. only touches the surface of the sand.

This is where a more robust screening machine does a better job. The beach cleaner on the right has a high screening capacity, doing both surface and deep cleaning, i.e. above and below the sand. It cleans beaches thoroughly, freeing them of cigarette butts, plastic bottles and caps, plastic bags, pieces of glass, stones, rocks and any other type of debris. The proof is in the hopper (second photo).

Performance Comparison

The most critical element to consider when looking for beach cleaning services is the performance specifications of the machine, specifically the operating depth, screening size and speed.

Typical Specifications Walk-behind Self-propelled Operating width 1,000 mm 1,500 mm Operating depth 100 mm 120 mm Top speed 7 km/h 14 km/h Cleaning 7,000 m2/h 21,000 m2/h performance

Ecocoast • CALL +971 4 885 3944 • EMAIL [email protected] www.ecocoast.com www.ecocoast.com | www.ecobarrier.ae Beach Cleaning Models With Long, Revolving Belts

The images on the left provide a number of examples of how poor engineering designs can impact the performance of beach cleaners, resulting in lower quality and less safe beaches.

Beach cleaners with long, revolving mesh screen belt designs (photo 1) have a lot to be desired. The manufacturer claims that the machines have an operating depth of 150mm, offering the highest quality and simple operation.

Looking at the technology, however, the revolving tines (photo 2) operate by going into the sand, kicking debris up and onto the mesh screen belt (photo 3). The machines clearly do not truly screen beach sand like self-propelled or other tractor-towed models.

The conveyor chain link belt of these machines will stretch and run crooked, eventually wearing out the sides (photo 4), mainly because of the uneven load of the sand as beaches are never perfectly leveled. Once the sides are worn, the mesh screen belt will continue to come apart until it breaks.

Much of the debris is below the beach surface. Only screening can remove items like coral, cigarette filters, glass and bottle caps.

Ecoco ast • CALL +971 4 885 3944 • EMAIL [email protected] Beach Cleaning Frequently Asked Questions

Answers To The Most Common Questions About Beach Cleaning

Q. How does it work? Q. At what time do you usually perform A. Our robust mechanical beach cleaners work by beach cleaning? aerating the sand and screening out dangerous debris A. We are flexible when it comes to scheduling, under the surface, in addition to picking up surface covering both standard operating hours and after- litter. The sand is immediately returned to the beach, hours to fit clients’ specific situations. All our machines while the larger debris is removed, leaving behind a have spotlights and our operators are trained to work smooth levelled and well groomed finish. at night to avoid disrupting the beach during daytime.

We use interchangeable screen sizes that can easily Q. Can the machine operate in water? be installed to ensure the most efficient clean for our A. We can provide a mechanical wet cleaning clients’ specific conditions. Multiple passes with machine, i.e. a modified Cherrington 4500XL with a different screen sizes are generally recommended to raised tow vehicle that cleans to depths of 1.5m in the ensure maximum benefit from the cleaning works. water. Kindly note that this process is relatively slow and slightly more expensive. We usually recommend We can run screen sizes of 6mm, 12mm and 19mm. wet cleaning 2-4 times per year. For initial passes on an unmaintained beach, we usually run with a larger 19mm screen to remove large Q. What are the costs involved? debris, as the smaller screens mean a slower A. While self-propelled or tractor-towed machines are operation of the machine. In wet or moist sand, large more expensive to operate than smaller walk-behind screen sizes will be used as the sand binds together raking models, their ability to clean deep and cover a and will not pass through the screen otherwise. larger area per hour, means they require less frequent cleaning and are a more cost-effective solution in the Q. What equipment do you have? longer term. A. A wide range of beach cleaning equipment is available for hire on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly Q. Do you offer any other beach services? basis, and can be mobilized throughout the UAE. A. The services we offer to our clients cover the whole package to create, protect and maintain a beach: Our fleet currently includes: one Cherrington beach from regular beach cleaning, installation of marinas, cleaner 4500XL (tractor-towed); two Cherrington floating pontoons, swimming enclosures, jellyfish beach cleaners 5500 (self-propelled). nets, to geobags & geotubes to protect shorelines.

Q. How often is the service necessary? Our clients are owners and operators of private beach A. Frequency of maintenance depends on quality of clubs, hotel beaches, marine clubs, marina facilities the sand, tidal environment, amount of debris and and private residences. area to be covered.

For new or unmaintained beaches, we recommend an Q. What experience do you have? initial deep clean with continually, daily running of the A. Since 2014, we have cleaned over 2,800,000 machine for up to 8 hours a day for 1-4 weeks square meters of area and removed over 2,240 depending on the size of the beach. After this period, cubic meters of rock and other debris from it is recommended to clean the beach 1-4 times per beaches and golf courses. This equates to over week to keep it maintained. 5,180 tonnes or 50 trailer loads.

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