In the aftermath of the North Sea ship crash, Lincolnshire’s beach cleaning brigades anticipate a prolonged battle against plastic pollution. ‘Years of spotting plastic in the sand ahead of us,’ is the grim prediction of Lianne Havell from Sutton-On-Sea Beachcare. The crash, which occurred on March 10 between the Stena Immaculate oil tanker and the Solong container ship, has left a lasting impact, with daily cleanups yielding numerous bags of debris. Astonishingly, just yesterday, a whopping 19 bags were gathered from the beach. Adding to the woes, the Solong had been ferrying 15 containers of nurdles, tiny raw plastic materials, eleven tonnes of which have already been collected for transportation to a waste station in Louth, as per the Lincolnshire County Council. These minuscule nurdles pose a significant threat, as they closely resemble fish eggs, endangering the beach’s wildlife. Despite the mounting challenges, the community’s spirit remains unbroken, with a surge in volunteer numbers since the incident. Deputy mayor of Mablethorpe and Sutton Town Council, Carl Tebbutt, commended the community’s efforts, stating, ‘We’re fortunate to have volunteer groups like Sutton-On-Sea Beachcare.’ Indeed, it appears that the fight against plastic pollution will require all hands on deck, with beach cleaning teams hoping for sand sifters’ assistance. While the situation is undoubtedly challenging, Lianne maintains a brave face, proud of her team’s response to this unprecedented event. In the spirit of community, the County Council encourages locals to report nurdle sightings and join the beach cleaning effort.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk.
