Cargo ship Baltic Klipper lost 16 containers overboard on Saturday and locals have been salvaging fruit from the beaches despite warnings they could be fined. Perishable goods can be taken now, the coastguard said.
The bananas washing up along the Sussex coast were packaged ready to be sold in Tesco and Asda.
Volunteers were cleaning fruit packaging from the beach at Selsey on Tuesday morning.
Donna Trethewey, founder of the Selsey Beach Litter Ninjas said the response has been overwhelming.
She said: “The beach is absolutely covered in insulation foam and plastic. The local response has been incredible-we have about 100 volunteers today.
“There’s more than you could imagine, hundreds and hundreds of crates.
“We’ve filled hundreds of refuse bags.”
Donna added the main concern was plastic packaging damaging the local marine environment.
“We’re leaving the bananas where they are unless they are wrapped in plastic,” she said.
“We don’t know what chemicals there are in the plastics and insulation.
“Our seabed is recovering but it’s fragile, it needs protecting.
“We’ve cleared as much as can be cleared today and we’ll be back tomorrow and for some time to come, I think.”
Eleven of the 16 steel shipping containers have beached on the Sussex coast since the weekend.
Seven containers have so far been located in Selsey, two at Pagham Harbour and two at Bognor.
Arun District Council, Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council said several agencies are working to resolve the issue of the containers that have come ashore.
Locals have also been warned washed up fruit may be unfit for consumption.
Anyone who has taken fruit home is advised to discard it immediately.
Those wishing to report waste from the containers should email marine.response@ambipar.com or phone 01202653558.
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