Record number for beach clean in Islandmagee

A record number of volunteers have helped to turn the tide on litter during a beach clean at Islandmagee over the weekend.
Participants in the weekend beach clean at Islandmagee.  INCT 39-744-CONParticipants in the weekend beach clean at Islandmagee.  INCT 39-744-CON
Participants in the weekend beach clean at Islandmagee. INCT 39-744-CON

The clean up operation took place as part of Beachwatch, the flagship project of Marine Conservation Society (MCS).

The campaign consists of beach litter surveys and clean-ups taking place the third week of September every year throughout UK.

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Led by Elena Aceves-Cully from Islandmagee, over 55 volunteers pitched in to collect and record rubbish at Brown’s Bay. The data will help MCS identify the main sources of litter on Brown’s Bay and keep the issue of the dangers of marine litter high on the local agenda.

The beach litter survey recorded a record total of 914 items, with the top item found being plastic debris (158), crisps, sweets, lolly and sandwich wrappers (60), followed by foil wrappers (41).

The number of discarded cigarette butts was down slightly (76 from 120 last year), while the number of plastic bags remained static at 16.

Small plastic pieces, bags and balloons can choke birds and the group was worried to discover a very large sea bird dead on the sand.

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Unusual items found included a vehicle tyre, a large lump of burnt out plastic, a metal pipe, a tent spike, two pairs of socks, a pair of boy’s underpants, swimming goggles, two candles, a tennis racket and two tennis balls.

Elena Aceves-Cully said: “Often people who visit the beach do not use bins provided, spoiling the beach for others. Individuals must take responsibility for their own actions, and remember never to leave litter on the beach.

“We found 16 pieces of dog waste, six of which were in plastic bags. This is very disappointing as it shows some irresponsible dog owners cannot be bothered to use the bins available nearby, causing pollution not once but twice by leaving a plastic bag behind!

“All participants expressed an interest in doing this again. I think it is a great way to make children in particular more aware of litter and of the need of keeping beaches clean.”

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