UK research for United Utilities revealed that one in 10 households had suffered blocked toilets and drains owing to baby wipes, make-up wipes and other non-flushables going down the pan. Many people put wipes down the toilet instead of in the bin. Packets are clearly marked so you can see if the product is suitable to be disposed of in the loo.
Wipes do not easily disintegrate and sewerage systems are not able to process them. They can block sewers, and when they are washed into the sea they can end up on beaches. The number of used wet wipes littering UK beaches has increased by 50% in the last year, according to the Marine Conservation Society.
The figures indicate that plastic is still the most common litter found on UK beaches. There was also a significant amount of rubbish from commercial and recreational fishing. Overall, the report showed a rising trend of rubbish on UK shores over the last 20 years.
The report, published as part of the MCS's annual Great British Beach Clean, was based on litter found by more than 5,000 volunteers on 301 UK beaches, from 19 to 22 September last year. Source: BBC News.
Wipes do not easily disintegrate and sewerage systems are not able to process them. They can block sewers, and when they are washed into the sea they can end up on beaches. The number of used wet wipes littering UK beaches has increased by 50% in the last year, according to the Marine Conservation Society.
The figures indicate that plastic is still the most common litter found on UK beaches. There was also a significant amount of rubbish from commercial and recreational fishing. Overall, the report showed a rising trend of rubbish on UK shores over the last 20 years.
The report, published as part of the MCS's annual Great British Beach Clean, was based on litter found by more than 5,000 volunteers on 301 UK beaches, from 19 to 22 September last year. Source: BBC News.
Sewerby - UK That's just pure laziness, especially if people are aware of the final outcome. Do we want our generation to be remembered by the rubbish future archaeologists uncover?
You might have picked up on my passion for the sea by reading the visual clue on the header.
In my youth, I would take my three children and any others in my care, down the local beach in South Australia once a week. Armed with plastic bags, we'd pick up all the rubbish we could find and dispose of it in the bin.
My children learned good lessons that way, as well as having the satisfaction of making their part of the world a better place.
Here's a short excerpt from Shattered Shells:
~ The regular pounding waves and the wind tugging at her hair, lulled Liliha. Nature invaded her senses. A quiet acceptance replaced her former rages against destiny while she followed her companion to a line of seaweed and shells left by the tide. Poor shattered shells. Once things of beauty, now unable to whisper secret possibilities—like her.
"Look at this plastic." Ellen lifted a piece of red material about the shape of a coin.
Liliha pulled her thoughts together. "Must have been a lid on a plastic bottle."
"Funny how the edges have gone."
"The constant pounding of the waves turns shells and rocks into sand. Even plastic might end up that way." While cool droplets of spume caught on her skin, Liliha drank in the view. Out to sea, the last rays of sunlight glinted on choppy water.
"Wouldn't it be great to have colored sand on the beach?"
"Everything changes over time." ~
What is the state of your closest beach?
Do you use the toilet as a waste disposal?
You might have picked up on my passion for the sea by reading the visual clue on the header.
In my youth, I would take my three children and any others in my care, down the local beach in South Australia once a week. Armed with plastic bags, we'd pick up all the rubbish we could find and dispose of it in the bin.
My children learned good lessons that way, as well as having the satisfaction of making their part of the world a better place.
Here's a short excerpt from Shattered Shells:
~ The regular pounding waves and the wind tugging at her hair, lulled Liliha. Nature invaded her senses. A quiet acceptance replaced her former rages against destiny while she followed her companion to a line of seaweed and shells left by the tide. Poor shattered shells. Once things of beauty, now unable to whisper secret possibilities—like her.
"Look at this plastic." Ellen lifted a piece of red material about the shape of a coin.
Liliha pulled her thoughts together. "Must have been a lid on a plastic bottle."
"Funny how the edges have gone."
"The constant pounding of the waves turns shells and rocks into sand. Even plastic might end up that way." While cool droplets of spume caught on her skin, Liliha drank in the view. Out to sea, the last rays of sunlight glinted on choppy water.
"Wouldn't it be great to have colored sand on the beach?"
"Everything changes over time." ~
What is the state of your closest beach?
Do you use the toilet as a waste disposal?
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