Commentary
The solution is stunningly simple – stop putting litter into the sea and onto beaches
Dr Sue Kinsey
MCS wants an end to all litter in our seas and on our beaches. Sadly, according to our BeachWatch litter surveys conducted by thousands of our volunteers, beach litter has gone up 110% since 1994.
MCS wants an end to all litter in our seas and on our beaches. Sadly, according to our BeachWatch litter surveys conducted by thousands of our volunteers, beach litter has gone up 110% since 1994. Plastic litter by a staggering 146%.
This has to stop. Litter is not just an eyesore; it’s harmful to us and kills and injures wildlife that eat or get entangled in it. Plastic litter, from the smallest pellet to vast quantities of synthetic fishing net, now forms the majority of litter found on shores worldwide, so it’s vital we all work together to turn the tide.
Plastic litter can take centuries to break down and may never fully degrade. It disintegrates into smaller pieces and ultimately, microscopic dust. Recent research shows plastic particles can adsorb toxins from the surrounding environment, which have the potential to get into the food chain.
This all adds up to a serious problem for future generations unless we act now.
The solution is stunningly simple – stop putting litter into the sea and onto beaches! As a small charity, MCS can’t tackle this problem alone. Governments, industry and the general public need to start considering this problem and helping us to fight a growing tide of litter.
Working together, we can bring about a change that can only be to everyone’s advantage. Ultimately, we all want the same thing – clean and safe seas for our wildlife and ourselves.
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Comments in chronological order (Total 4 comments)
Ken Grace
16 November 2009, 17.36
If only it were so stunningly simple.
Can the 110% increase in litter and 146% increase in plastic litter be put into context? How much of this total litter increase relates to increased use of the beaches? How much relates to tide-borne litter from increased pleasure boating cruising? How much relates to more thorough counting?
How does the increase in plastics litter relate to a decrease in glass and metal litter? And how much safer are our beaches if broken bottles and rusted cans have been replaced by plastic containers?
The break-down rate of plastics is an over-quoted red herring. Unless any pollutant breaks down faster than the rate at which it is dumped, there is going to be a steady increase. If a paper bag degrades in a year and they are dumped at a tonne a month, by the end of the year there will be a permanent 11 tonnes of decomposing paper.
Clearly any form of littering is wrong, but to concentrate attention on the nature of the litter rather than its source just avoids the problem. And what is worse is to vilify one material and create the subliminal impression that it’s OK to leave other sorts of litter because they are the acceptable alternative.
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Laurie Wiegler
12 November 2009, 17.58
Thank you for promoting this program and heightening awareness of the problem.
Here in Southwestern Connecticut, US, we are still using plastic bags! Grocery stores don’t even give paper as an option, and few people seem to care about buying and using cloth bags.
The plastic using/SUV-driving culture in the US can only be reversed by heightened awareness. Please continue to promote the message of the hazards of plastics, on the beaches and in general.
I am a journalist covering environmental issues and I find this very disturbing. More people need to really care, so thank you.
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Wolfgang
12 November 2009, 11.06
This summer I spent some time at the French Rviera.
I saw sea gulls hunting for cigarette budds, almost catching them on the fly.
Cigarette filters are full of tar and nicotine.
Is’nt that toxic to these birds?
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