Musings from the Merse
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Big Mac Meets Cotton Bud Stick
Looking out on the pristine and empty beaches of Dundrum Bay it is hard to be too concerned about the following item from the on-line Berwickshire; (hard copy not available in this part of Norn Iron where you have to choose between the Mourne Observer and the Down Recorder)
CONTINUING tide of cotton-bud sticks has helped tip Scotland to the bottom of the UK league for beach litter.
Sewage-related debris (SRD), consisting mainly of cotton-bud sticks, accounted for 26 per cent of the total litter found in Scotland, according to the Marine Conservation Society's (MCS) Beachwatch 2007 survey report published earlier this week.
The density of SRD in Scotland (708.8/km) was the highest of any country and over five times the UK average (125.7/km).
But although sewage waste is a large contributor to the litter on Scotland's beaches, it is not the main offender.
The highest percentage of litter comes from recreational visitors dropping bottles, cigarette butts, cans etc on beaches during their time there.
And with tourism vital for the economy of Berwickshire towns and villages like Eyemouth and St Abbs, both see their populations swell dramatically during the summer months.
But with this comes the inevitable litter, although Kevin Rideout, Head Ranger at St Abb's Nature Reserve said it can be difficult to pinpoint just where it comes from.
"Most of the litter that arrives on beaches on the Berwickshire coast is washed up from the sea although you don't always know where from.
"It could be from nearby or it could realistically be from anywhere on the east coast.
"For example a beach like Linkim Shore near Eyemouth doesn't get a lot of visitors, yet it still gets its fair share of litter.
And a lot could be from Big Mackers heading north-but to be fair to them most of the wrapping has been tossed out of the car on the A1 long before the St Abb's turn off.
As for the precise provenance of the Cotton Bud sticks one is tempted not
to enquire
too closely.
(But Hutton Think Tank have an on going study)
Labels: cotton bud sticks, litter, McDonalds, St Abbs
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