The Marine Conservation Society’s annual Great British Beach Clean is running between 20-29 September 2024, with a number of events planned across the United Kingdom.
The Great British Beach Clean, which is being sponsored this year by Irish soup brand Cully & Sully Soup, is one of the largest marine citizen science initiatives in the UK. Volunteers not only work to clear the UK’s beaches of litter, but also record data about what types of rubbish are found – data which can subsequently be used to inform policymakers about steps that can be taken to reduce the amount of litter finding its way into the ocean.
Several tonnes of rubbish are cleared from UK beaches each year, and the data recorded has shown that policies such as the plastic carrier bag charge have made a hugely positive contribution to reducing ocean waste.
The amount of plastic bags removed from UK beaches has dropped by an average of 80 per cent since the charges were introduced.
Unfortunately, while plastic bags have been reduced, drinks-related litter was found to have increased by 14 per cent during the 2023 beach clean, prompting calls to implement deposit return schemes for drinks containers as a matter of urgency.
Plastic pollution and sewage also contribute significantly to the rubbish found across UK beaches. Nine out of 10 items of litter collected during 2023 were plastic, and more than 29,500 sewage-related items were found across 72 per cent of the beaches surveyed, including at least 21,000 wet wipes.
‘The work we do at the Marine Conservation Society simply wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our volunteers, who help gather crucial beach litter data,’ said Clare Trotman, Beachwatch Officer at the Marine Conservation Society.
‘This information is invaluable in shaping scientific understanding and driving the changes needed to protect our precious marine environment.
‘With beach cleans taking place all over the UK and Channel Islands, there are countless opportunities to get involved and support us this year, and if you can’t make it to the beach, you can still contribute by organising a local litter pick and survey in your area.’
To find your nearest cleaning event – or to start your own – head to the MCS Great British Beach Clean web page.
