This could result in around 50 kilograms of plastic per meter of coastline, posing severe risks to marine life and human health through ingestion and environmental contamination.
It’s these alarming statistics that motivated me to get out of bed on the windy final Sunday of September and participate in the Worthing Beach Clean Up with Worthing Green party.
One of the things that stood out to me even before the day was how technology was involved.
I was sent an email telling me to download an app to input the data we gathered during the clean-up.
At first, I didn’t understand the point because surely we were just trying to clean up the beach, protect the ocean, and do our bit for the planet.
But after googling and falling down various internet rabbit holes, I understood.
The data we input would contribute to global efforts to monitor plastic pollution trends, map litter hotspots, and develop targeted solutions.
The idea that the data I inputted in Worthing could help an initiative on the other side of the world felt surreal.
It made me question why we aren’t leveraging this kind of technology more widely—governments and businesses could be doing so much more.
It was great to see the impressively, large turnout. We spent about an hour, walking along the beach, chatting with people, and picking up litter.
Three members of the Green Party were present: Sonya Mallin, Ian Davey, and Claire Hunt. The last two are Green Party councilors for Worthing.
I was fortunate enough to talk to Claire Hunt who said “This is the third beach clean and litter survey Worthing Green Party has organised in Goring on behalf of the Marine Conservation Society. We’ve removed 2 kilos of unsightly beach litter today, over 60% of which was plastic or polystyrene that is harmful to marine life and eventually gets into our food chain. And the data we collect is used nationally and globally to pressure manufacturers and governments to take action to work towards cleaner, better-protected, healthier seas that we can all enjoy.”
If you’ve ever considered joining a clean-up, now’s the time. Check for events in your area—you might be surprised by who you meet, what you learn, and how much of an impact you can have.
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