South West beaches are worst for litter (From Boating Cornwall)

South West beaches are worst for litter

2:50pm Wednesday 8th April 2009

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Rubbish levels on the UK's beaches has reached its highest level ever, according to a Marine Conservation Society survey.

The society found that rubbish has increased by 110 per cent since 1994.

This is the equivalent to 2,195 pieces of litter per kilometre.

Beaches in the south-west of England suffer from the highest density of rubbish in the UK at 4,784 items per kilometre.

The society has called on the government to develop a co-ordinated litter strategy to tackle the problem, which can have devestating effects on wildlife.

However the government has dismissed the call saying it is an "issue of personal responsibility".

Emma Snowden, a co-ordinator at the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), said: "Litter can harm and kill wildlife through ingestion and entanglement but it can also be harmful to people."

It costs millions to clear from the coastline, discourages tourists, damage fishing equipment.

In Cornwall many beachside communities are forced to organise regular litter-picks to keep rubbish under control.

The 5,000 volunteers who took part in the MCS annual Beachwatch survey took away 385,000 pieces of litter from more than 370 beaches last September.

Plastic was the most frequently found item, contributing to a 148 per cent rise since the survey began in 1994.

A third of the litter found was dropped by the public.

The rest came mainly from fishing, sewage and shipping.

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