The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) says recent figures showing the highest amounts of litter on British beaches in 20 years have prompted it to launch The Great British Beach Clean, and it's looking for volunteers.
The charity is asking for volunteers to put their names forward in July, ready to make this the biggest mass participation event of its kind in September.
Plastic bottles and carrier bags, condoms, nappies, balloons, and tiny plastic pieces can be found on almost every beach in the UK, either washed up, blown there or dropped. Our beaches have never been so filthy, and most of the litter found can be traced back to the general public!
MCS says it hopes the Great British Beach Clean will reconnect people with the coastline to ensure it is a clean, safe place for this generation, and for those to come.
Last year, MCS’ annual litter clean and survey found on average 2,309 pieces of litter for every kilometre of the coast its volunteers cleaned — a record high since surveys began in 2004.
The charity says that between September 19-22, it hopes to make Britain's beaches clean for one weekend with 10,000 volunteers on over 400 beaches picking up litter and recording what it is and where it came from.
For the first time this year, volunteers will be asked especially to record any branded items they find, to enable MCS to approach specific manufacturers and retailers and look at ways they can work with them to reduce the amount of rubbish reaching our beaches.
As a special incentive, the first 500 volunteers to register will be entered into a prize draw and two lucky people will receive Love2Shop vouchers worth £50 each.
For more information visit the MCS website.
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