Washed Up!

The Great British Beach Clean has confirmed a continued a downward trend for the number of items of litter washing up on UK shorelines. An average of 385 pieces of litter per 100 metres were found in 2021. In 2019, the figure was 558. (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/25/amount-of-litter-on-uk-beaches-is-falling-national-clean-up-finds). Although the trend is good, 75% of the current litter items are still plastics or polystyrene. Such items are the most environmentally problematical. Legislation clearly works. The numbers of plastic bags on beaches, greatly declined after bringing in charging for these items in shops. Campaigners, however, describe the current rate of progress in the cutting of plastic waste as 'snail-paced'.