1.1 The increasing volume of litter in our seas and on our beaches is a huge cause for concern, both in the UK and globally (UNEP 2005), affecting wildlife, ecosystems, the tourism and fishing industries, as well as the taxpayer. Current estimates are that beach litter alone costs the UK around £15 million per year (KIMO 2010). Now in its 20th year, the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) Beachwatch programme co-ordinates beach litter surveys across the UK. The data gathered is used by Government as well as MCS (for example in the marine litter chapters of the Charting Progress 1 and Charting Progress 2 DEFRA publications), and also by the UK Government and OSPAR for UK marine litter monitoring purposes, in particular relating to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
1.2 In general, quantities of litter on UK beaches have more than doubled since 1994, with the density of plastic increasing almost threefold over the same period. Plastic items have consistently accounted for over 70% of all litter, including not only the obvious culprits of bags and bottles, but also items such as cotton bud sticks, condoms and nappies. Despite legislation aimed at preventing the dumping of litter at sea - such as the MARPOL Convention and the Port Waste Reception Facilities Regulations – and an increasing public awareness of waste and recycling, average litter densities on UK beaches are now around 2,000 litter items/km surveyed. Globally, around 265 million tonnes of plastic is produced annually; a growth of 4.5% a year over the past 20 years. Last year the top five items found on UK beaches were plastic pieces, caps and lids, polystyrene pieces (<50cm) crisp/sweet/lolly wrappers, and string and cord (<1cm), (Marine Conservation, Beachwatch Big Weekend 2013 summary report). Europe accounts for 57 million tonnes of the global consumption of plastic, with 39% of this being used for packaging (Plastics Europe 2011). The very qualities of plastics that make them so useful, such as their durability and light weight, have unfortunately made them one of the most pervasive, persistent and hazardous forms of litter in the marine environment.
1.3 There are also significant concerns around the effects of microplastics (particles smaller than 5mm). Microplastics arise from: the degradation of larger items, plastic particles in personal care products washed down drains, and plastic pre-production pellets, the main raw feedstock of all plastic items. These have the ability not only to release toxic chemicals into the surrounding water, but also to attract toxic chemicals onto their surface. There is a real concern that these toxins may be passed up the food chain and ultimately to ourselves as seafood consumers.
What harm is being caused?
1.4 Marine litter causes economic, environmental and social harm. The most immediate effects upon ocean wildlife including birds, mammals and fish arise from them mistakenly eating marine litter, often with fatal consequences. Wildlife, flora and the seafloor can also be affected by smothering and entanglement by litter, the most obvious effects being on seals, cetaceans and birds which may lose limbs due to entanglement in rubbish.
1.5 Marine litter also results in lost revenue for fisheries, due to the time and effort involved in sorting debris from the catch, while larger items may actually tear fishing gear. Fouled propellers and pierced hulls caused by litter can also endanger human life if vessels cannot be operated. A survey of fishermen in Shetland reported that 92% had accumulated marine debris in their nets, 69% had had their catch contaminated, and 92% had snagged their nets on debris on the seabed (KIMO, 2010). Costs associated with the time dealing with marine litter to the Scottish fishing fleet are between €11.7 million and €13 million per year (KIMO, 2010). As stated, the costs of cleaning up marine litter at coastal resorts, harbours and ports run into millions of pounds every year. Finally, litter can also cause a hazard to all forms of shipping, both recreational and commercial.
The Marine Framework Strategy Directive (MSFD) and Marine Litter Strategies
1.6 Under, the MSFD, Marine Litter is specifically cited as one of the 11 descriptors in which Member States are required to undertake measures to achieve “Good Environmental Status” (GES) by 2020 - “quantities and properties of marine litter shall not cause harm to the marine and coastal environment”. In 2015 the UK Government will outline the “programme of measures” it believes are required to achieve GES across each of the 11 MSFD descriptors. We are extremely concerned that Defra has suggested that existing measures are sufficient to achieve GES, when clearly they are not. Despite existing legislation aimed at preventing littering at sea and on land, quantities of litter on UK beaches have doubled over the last 20 years. Government needs to harness the increasing public awareness of waste and recycling and produce a comprehensive and ambitious programme of measures to reverse these trends. To suggest that existing measures are sufficient is to suggest that our present litter strewn beaches are in GES. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland have produced marine litter strategies which link in with the MSFD. However, there is at present no evidence that Westminster will follow suit, or that the devolved administrations and the UK Government are working collaboratively to take a broad overview of the sources of marine litter and the problems that it causes. MCS would urge both Westminster and Welsh Governments to produce marine litter strategies and for these to be coordinated with Northern Ireland and Scotland.
MCS recommendations for Local Government Action to tackle litter
1.7 Formulate coherent and coordinated marine litter strategies across the UK. Below are some examples of the types of measures that should be included in such a Strategy for local governments to implement. This list is not meant to be comprehensive:
1.7.1 Implement the charge on all single use bags in England – there should be no exemptions for this charge for small businesses or paper/biodegradable bags, in line with the schemes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
1.7.2 Introduce recycling and disposal facilities for fishing nets and lines at port and harbours.
1.7.3 Ensure the sufficient provision, and maintenance of, public litter and recycling bins.
1.7.4 Enforce fines for littering.
1.7.5 Clean beaches throughout the winter, (not just summer) in order to remove litter thrown up from the seabed by winter storms.
1.7.6 Fund community based educational campaigns to encourage the public disposal of all waste appropriately.
1.7.7 Investigate the feasibility of bringing in a single system of household recycling across the UK.
1.7.8 Help promote and fund campaigns such as ‘Bag it and Bin it’ to reduce the amount of sewage related debris.
1.7.9 Introduce a voluntary ban on balloon and lantern releases on council owed land.
1.7.11 Ensure every council has an environmental social responsibility statement available to the public, including a section on targets for dealing with waste.
1.7.14 Ensure children at local schools are taught about littering, and how to dispose of items appropriately.
1.7.15 Support and/or instigate local voluntary groups in beach cleans and community litter picks.
1.8 Examples of other (non local government) measures needed to address litter:
1.8.1 The cosmetics industry should end the use of small plastic particles in personal care products such as toothpastes, body and facial scrubs.
1.8.2 Ensure that the revised Port Reception Facilities (PRF) regulations bring in a ‘No Special Fee’ system across Europe, and extend the regulations to include all fishing vessels.
1.8.3 Properly enforce current legislation for the protection and progressive improvement of the aquatic environment, and ensure polluters pay costs that truly reflect the damage they cause.
1.8.4 Introduce a ‘no blame’ reporting system for reporting lost or abandoned fishing gear.
1.8.5 Incentivize all supermarkets and all other major consumer outlets to introduce comprehensive drinks bottle deposit scheme across the UK to address the one of the most common beach litter items.
1.8.6 Work with signatory countries to ensure the statutory enforcement of waste reduction measures under the OSPAR and MARPOL Conventions.
October 2014