The results are now in for the 2019 #GreatBritishBeachClean. With a 36% increase in drinks containers found and 38 drinks containers found per 100m of beach, the data shows an urgent need for an ‘all-inclusive’ deposit return system (DRS) which is consistent with other DRS across the UK and which includes glass and plastic bottles of all sizes, as well as cans.
What is the Great British Beach Clean (GBBC) 2019?
- The Great British Beach Clean has been running for 26 years, during which time the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has gathered data which has driven policy change which is making a real impact.
- It is an annual event that takes place on the third weekend of September, to coincide with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean Up.
- Almost 11 tonnes of litter were removed from beaches across the UK in just one weekend, and 558 litter items were found per 100m of UK beach surveyed.
- Plastic pieces remain the most prolific form of litter across UK beaches.
Key Findings from GBBC 2019
- Glass is the third most commonly found item on UK beaches
- UK-wide there is an average of 38 drinks containers per 100m of beach
- There is an average of 4 glass bottles for every 100m of beach in the UK
- There has been a 36% increase in drinks containers found on beaches when comparing 1994 data to 2019 (from an average of one bottle per 100m in 1994 to an average of four in 2019).