[A]llerdale Borough Council is asking people to ‘bin it 4 beaches’ this summer to keep our coastline clean and litter free.
The campaign is part of efforts by LOVEmyBEACH to show how taking a few simple steps can help keep our beaches and the sea clean.
Recent news stories have highlighted the amount of plastic and other waste in the seas and on beaches. One major concern is wet wipes which many people find buried in the sand next to their picnic spot.
As wet wipes have become more and more popular with people, the numbers appearing on our beaches has increased. The Marine Conservation Society’s annual beach litter survey shows that the number of wet wipes found on UK beaches has risen by 700% over the last decade.
Millions of wipes are wrongly flushed down the toilet each year with a small percentage reaching our beaches and seas. Whilst some of the products say they are able to be flushed down the toilet, many aren’t passing the tests set by water companies and aren’t breaking down quickly enough in the sewerage system. These then can end up on our beaches.
Therefore the #binit4beaches campaign is calling on everyone, whether they live by the sea or not, to remember that only the 3P’s should be flushed down the toilet – pee, poo and (toilet) paper – should be flushed down the toilet. Wet wipes and similar products should be put in the bin, whatever it says on the packet.
Carni McCarron-Holmes, Executive member with responsibility for environmental health, said: “We have one of the best coastlines in the UK with much of it has rightly been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. However, unfortunately our throw-away society is having a negative effect on keeping it pristine and clean for everyone to enjoy. Therefore I fully support this campaign. It is something where we can all make a difference whether you are a visitor in Keswick, or a resident of Allonby. It’s time we all started to bin it for beaches.”
Whilst our beaches and seas are cleaner than they have been for many years, the Council has been an active supporter of the LOVEmyBEACH campaign to encourage people to take a few simple steps to help keep them this way. Alongside wet wipes it also encourages people not to pour fats oils and greases down the sink. These can cause blockages affecting the effectiveness of the sewerage systems, resulting in effluent ending up in the sea.
The Council is also helping to organise a series of events as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s Great British beach cleans. These clean-ups will be held on Oldside Shore, Workington on Friday 15 September 2017 and on Harrington Shore on Sunday 17 September 2017. For further details contact Raegan Blacker on raegan.blacker@allerdale.gov.uk.
