10-mile plastic bundle removed from Ackergill shore thanks to beach cleaners
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Members of an environmental group helping clear the Caithness coast from plastic pollution removed around 10 miles of pallet strapping from the Ackergill shoreline at the weekend.
Dorcas Sinclair and her husband Allan went to the site to remove the tangle of plastic after images were posted by fellow member of the Caithness Beach Cleans (CBC) group Isobel Grewcock on December 5.
Isobel said: "Coming across this massive bundle of plastic tie-wrap whilst out walking our dog really brought home to me the careless attitude of certain seafarers who are obviously very ignorant to the damage that such material can do to marine life. The sheer magnitude of, what is basically a hazardous and threatening by-product cast off from some boat or ship, is disgusting."
Isobel returned to Ackergill on Saturday to help CBC stalwarts Allan and Dorcas remove the enormous bundle that posed a series risk to marine creatures, seabirds and other wildlife.
"By the weight of the pallet strapping we worked out that there was approx 10 miles or 15 km," said Dorcas who was "gobsmacked" when she first saw the bundle.
"We looked up the weight of the stuff online and worked it out. Allan thought that could not be right so he took some in that was still in a bag in the car and weighed it and worked it out again and it was right."
Using a hacksaw, they cut the strapping into four smaller bundles that they rolled and tied up with the material itself. Then they left it at the bins at Ackergill harbour to be picked up for recycling on Monday.
The overall weight came to 118.93 lbs, which will be tallied up on the CBC Facebook page for the group to add to its annual total.
Isobel added: "My sincere thanks and gratitude goes to Dorcas and Allan Sinclair who started up the group Caithness Beach Cleans and who physically cut, bundled and manhandled (carried on their backs) the tie-wrap to the turning point at Ackergill to set it beside a nearby public bin for collection and proper disposal. I'd like to say a huge well done and thank you to Dorcas, Allan and all the volunteers who religiously scour our coastline to make a better and cleaner environment for all marine life."
Dorcas said that if anyone comes across a similar sight could they send CBC a photo. "That would be very helpful as it would let us know what we are dealing with and we would be prepared."
Join the CBC to help clear Caithness beaches of plastic pollution by visiting its Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/groups/2561533860586878
Dorcas who runs the CBC can also be emailed at: caithnessbeachcleans@gmail.com
