Visitors leave 'truly shocking' amount of litter on the beach

Report by ITV News Meridian's Malcolm Shaw

Visitors to Brighton and Hove are leaving a "truly shocking" amount of litter on the beach, according to the city council. 

Huge amounts of rubbish have been cleared this summer and the warm weather and covid restrictions means more of us than ever are taking staycations and day trips this year.

It is not just unsightly, it is also dangerous for marine life and wildlife.

Brighton beach Credit: ITV NEWS MERIDIAN

500 rubbish bins are along the beach and the council says there is no excuse to leave litter.

  • Approximately 51 trillion microscopic pieces of plastic, weighing 269,000 tons is in our seas (Source: Surfers against Sewage)

  • Only 1% of marine litter floats, everything else sinks to the sea floor (Source: Surfers against Sewage)

  • Approximately 5,000 items of marine plastic pollution have been found per mile of beach in the UK (Marine Conservation Society, 2016)

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