Guide to taking part in a litter-picking beach clean

Many beaches around the UK are becoming more and more polluted. It’s estimated that at least 12million tonnes of litter enter the ocean every single year, which is having a hugely negative impact on ecosystems under the sea.
One of the most common ways litter ends up in the ocean is from waste being left on beaches all
around the country. The water then drags it into the sea, allowing it to come into close contact with the sea life nearby.
While there’s a lot to be done to clear up this growing issue, one thing you can do right now is take
part in a litter-picking beach clean to help keep rubbish entering the sea to a minimum. If you’re not
sure how you can take part or what items you need to do this, then we’re here to help. Read our
handy guide below and find a litter-picking beach clean to support in the near future.
Choose your location
Your first port of call is to choose where you’ll be litter picking, which could be in a tourist hotspotlike Great Yarmouth or somewhere a little quieter that might not get the attention it deserves. Once
you have your location, you’ll just need to arrange your travel to get to the beach on any free day
you have.
Bring the right equipmentAlthough many of the objects you will pick up are harmless, one of the most common objectsincludes glass bottles, which means a thick pair of gardening gloves are essential to protect you from
getting cut. Some of the other items you need to bring include:
 A litter picker
 Bin bags
 Waterproof clothing
 Sturdy and comfortable footwear
Know when to report objects
Unfortunately, you may come across some areas that have been heavily neglected by fly-tippers and
you’ll need to report these areas of concern to the local councils. Areas that have been heavily fly-
tipped on cause huge amounts of pollution and so, reporting them may just prevent it from getting
any worse.
Separate your litter
There’ll be a lot of different objects for you to sort through into different piles so that you can
dispose of them responsibly and make sure they don’t end up back in a place they don’t belong. Try
to put your plastics in one bag, glass in another and any non-recyclable materials into a final bag.