'Don't make Easter rubbish': Wildlife appeal for people not to litter as lockdown eases
As lockdown restrictions begin to ease slightly over the Easter Holidays there's a warning about the problems that litter can cause for wildlife.
Marine experts from the Sea Life Trust which runs fifteen aquariums across the UK including in Hunstanton and Great Yarmouth, are appealing for people to bin their litter or take it home with them.
Last summer when lockdown eased there was a rise in people littering. Now there's concern over disposable face masks which if they get into the sea or rivers can cause harm to wildlife.
'The country's gone a little bit 'feral': Dismay over lockdown litter problem.
Seal dead and another critically injured after getting caught in discarded fishing nets
Seal released back into the wild after getting caught in 'flying ring'.
The effects of last year's easing of lockdown over the summer from city canals to rural beaches, saw a surge in litter being found in waters across the country.
Now SEA LIFE aquariums and their official charity the SEA LIFE Trust have launched the ‘Don’t Make Easter Rubbish’ campaign to prevent it happening again.
There's a particular concern surround disposable face masks. The Marine Conservation Society found them on 30 per cent of all beaches last year.
The time it takes for the following to biodegrade:
Cigarette butts – 10+ years
Coffee cup – 50 years
Plastic bags – 20-50 years
Crisp packet – 80+ years
Straws – 200 years
Plastic bottles - average 450-1000 years
Single use face masks – 450+ years