Two types of new bins have been sited near some of Ceredigion’s main beaches to help keep the county’s coast clean.
The large bins, forming what will be known as beach litter collection points, are being installed near the key access points to beaches at Borth, Clarach, Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, New Quay, Llangrannog and Tresaith and will provide temporary additional capacity when it is most needed.
Councillor Ray Quant MBE, Cabinet Member for Technical Services said, “We are seeing an increased awareness of the detrimental impact humans are having on the marine environment. Arising from this, more and more people are wanting to get actively involved in addressing the situation by taking part in activities such as beach litter picking. Providing these bins is a way of supporting this whether people are doing this on a one off basis or more regularly on their own or as part of a group.”
The Dolphin bins were designed with the aim of encouraging people to deal with their waste responsibly.
The location choice of the bins is to minimise the detrimental visual impacts that siting large numbers of permanent bins in such aesthetically pleasing locations can have as well as being mis-used and attract fly tipping.
The provision of the new bins forms part of Caru Ceredigion whereby those visiting, living and enjoying all that is fantastic about Ceredigion can play their part in keeping it clean. The Council works closely with other key stakeholders including Keep Wales Tidy and volunteer groups including the Aberystwyth Beach Buddies and Surfers Against Sewage who have a mutual and shared interest in protecting and maintaining Ceredigion’s local environment.
Alan Cookson from Aberystwyth Beach Buddies is regularly involved in litter picking activities as an organiser and participant. Alan is very eager to raise awareness of what people can do to preserve the marine environment and said, “This is a great initiative by Ceredigion County Council and shows not only their recognition of the vast increase in people taking action to protect our local marine environment, but also their own commitment to doing so.
Marine plastic pollution is a world wide problem and every tide in Ceredigion brings more ocean plastic to our coast. Since Blue Planet 2 was screened on the BBC at the start of 2018, the UK and its citizens have responded in many ways to reduce their use of plastic, and none more so than in our own county.
Ceredigion County Council are already supporting and organising large beach cleans with their own litter picks, by providing equipment to community groups to undertake their own clean ups. They also direct services to collect what the general public's action are removing during such events run by other marine conservation groups.
People have, in their own time, taken to spontaneously and autonomously engaging in mini beach cleans all along our coast. These new bins facilitate and support these actions and the messages and images displayed on them will also encourage others to become part of what is a fast growing, local, national and worldwide movement.
We commend Ceredigion County Council for being at the forefront of encouraging and supporting these actions. Every piece of marine plastic removed is important and every action counts.”
The use of the bins will be monitored and if the initiatives are successful, consideration will be given to other locations.
Those wanting to find out more about the support that can be provided can contact the Council via Technical.Services@ceredigion.gov.uk or 01545 572572.
11/05/2018