Britain's beaches are becoming a dangerous dumping ground
Plastic littering of Britain’s beaches is at its highest level since records began.
This is according to the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) Beachwatch 2007 survey report published on Tuesday 8 April.
The MCS Beachwatch 2007 Report shows that plastic litter on our beaches has increased by a staggering 126% since the annual survey began in 1994.
Plastic debris now accounts for over 58% of all litter found on UK beaches, including plastic bags and plastic drinks bottles.
Plastic-based cigarette butts are also amongst the most frequently encountered litter items.
The tide of plastic litter is not just unsightly. Over 170 species of marine wildlife including seabirds, turtles and whales have been recorded mistaking marine litter for food resulting in starvation, poisoning and fatal stomach blockages.
In addition, plastic packaging and discarded fishing nets injure, entangle and drown some of Britain’s favourite marine wildlife, including seals and dolphins.
“The results are truly shocking. In the last 10 years plastic drinks bottles have increased by 67%, plastic bags by 54% and cigarette butts by 44%. Plastics are of particular concern as they could persist in the marine environment for centuries with fatal consequences for marine wildlife,” said Emma Snowden, MCS litter projects coordinator.
"The plastic litter problem needs to be tackled at all levels, from grassroots through to government, while industry and retail sectors must acknowledge the need to reduce plastic bag use and packaging.”
The MCS Beachwatch 2007 Report is based on data collected by almost 4,000 volunteers on 354 UK beaches surveyed in mid-September 2007.
This latest report identifies four key sources of beach litter - recreational and beach visitors (35.3%), fishing litter (13.7%), sewage related debris/sanitary waste (6.1%) and shipping litter (1.8%).
The average density of UK beach litter in the MCS Beachwatch 2007 survey was 2,054 items of litter per kilometre – an average of two items for every metre stretch of beach.
While MCS lobbies for a national strategy to tackle the volume of rubbish washing up on Britain's beaches, it also encourages individual responsibility for litter disposal.
Snowden continued: “Everyone can help prevent some of the most common plastic items littering our beaches and seas by reducing their use."
