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A load of old rubbish
by loiswakeman @ 30/03/2008 - 21:44:35

I forgot to turn the lights off for Earth Hour yesterday, so to make up for it, I’m blogging about another environmental issue that’s been in the news: plastic rubbish in the sea and on the beach.

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I went to Monmouth Beach in Lyme Regis this evening (taking advantage of the extra hour’s light) to see what was washed up on the strandline. I met two other beachcombers collecting driftwood, but my sights were set on much more destructive rubbish: plastic waste.

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The vast majority on the local beaches is plastic drink, water, household cleaner and cosmetics bottles, including a horrible rash of “Blonde Expressions” shampoo bottles (I counted over 50 in one place) – I hope Pantene’s ears are burning as I write this.

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Dumb blondes sunbathing

But there is also lots of fishing waste (local fishermen’s ears are similarly flaming?), bits of kids’ toys, disposable lighters, industrial containers, odd shoes, and waste left directly by holiday makers: throwaway barbeques, crisp packets, pristine drinks bottles etc. Shame on them too.

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Whilst disfiguring our local coast is bad enough, plastic has far worse consequences than that. Fishing line can trap and kill birds, small pieces can end up collecting heavy metals then be eaten by all sorts of marine life, and farther afield, albatrosses unknowingly feed it to their chicks, who die when their intestines become blocked.

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So, if you are ever tempted to dump some plastic near the sea, please think again!

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MissyMouseMissyMouse [Member]
30/03/08 @ 22:22

Thank you so much for highlighting the stuff that gets washed ashore....it's really worrying!

MrFlightyMrFlighty [Member]
30/03/08 @ 23:27

I think that it's terrible that it happens! Sadly it's such an uncaring world in so many ways.

LissaTLissaT pro
31/03/08 @ 00:14

I remember one windy day I was behind a rubbish lorry crossing the Humber Bridge. During the mile long crossing 111 pieces of rubbish (mainly plastic carrier bags) blew off it and into the Humber, whence they will have floated out to sea to wash up at some later date on a beach.

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loiswakemanloiswakeman [Member]
http://lois.co.uk
31/03/08 @ 11:05

Or worse - eaten by some benighted turtle or strangling a seabird.

I thought those big lorries were supposed to have nets on the top?

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LissaTLissaT pro
31/03/08 @ 17:22

So did I.

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SeasideManSeasideMan pro
02/04/08 @ 15:09

Hi Lois. I'm glad there are two of us talking about this rather serious issue. I'm amazed at all the shampoo bottles you found, that's really shocking. I intend to do another blog on this subject quite soon, if I can think of a new angle on it. I've just accepted your friend invite.

Cheers, Tom.

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loiswakemanloiswakeman [Member]
http://lois.co.uk
02/04/08 @ 15:14

The shampoo bottles were a shock to me too. Very weathered, so I wonder if they might be part of the Napoli's cargo from last year? Or perhaps dumped from some cruise ship that used them in its salons. The photo only shows a small proportion - if I'd had more time I would have collected up more and shown those too.

Do you have a beach cleaning weekend, or perhaps water quality measurements, that you could write about?

And welcome to my newest virtual friend in blogland also, of course.

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SeasideManSeasideMan pro
02/04/08 @ 15:54

There was a beach cleaning day last month that my partner Helen attended, but I was unable to. They started at one end, but by the end of the day had only got half way and there is ended. Apparently yhey start at the same end every time which sounds a bit silly to me.

I don't have any water purity figures, but I do know that the waters here in Cardigan Bay have won awards for cleanliness, and it's also a European Special Area for Conservation (ESAC) because of the shellfish, porpoise and dolphins we have.

I bet those bottles were all dumped from a cruise ship. I will definitely do another blog on beach rubbish soon. In fact when the weather improves, I will go take some pictures in preparation. Heavy rain here at present.

Tom.

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polythenepam [Visitor]
http://www.plasticisrubbish.wordpress.com
15/04/08 @ 10:36

Hi
If you want pictures of plastic pollution oceans wide the guys who organised Modbury plastic free town have posted some on yahoo that every one can use. I have posted my pictures of plastic pollution up there too - for links go to www.plasticisrubbish.wordpress.com a photogallery of what plastic is doing to our country is needed to highlight the issue. And as for plastic shampoo bottles - well thats why I make my own shampoo - that and the fact I am not rubbing all kinds of chemicals preservatives and synthetic perfumes into my scalp.

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