100KG of litter cleared from River Waveney in two months

The River Waveney Trust Preventing Plastic Pollution has been gathering data from seven litter picks between Diss and Beccles and removed a total of 96KG of litter from the River Waveney and its banks. 

On the group's most recent outing, in kayaks, canoes and a punt, along Falcon Medow in Bungay, a total of 22kg of litter was gathered, mostly food and drink-related rubbish.   

The more unusual items included a stack of music magazines with a CD attached to the front of each, a rotten towel and two pairs of pants. 

Angela Lamb, volunteer and events co-ordinator, River Waveney Trust, said: “There were 20 of us in total out picking litter, we want to repeat this event.  

“On Saturday we were focusing on the litter directly on riverbanks and in the river, next time we would like to collect more of the rubbish on the common too. 

“Litter finds its way into rivers in several ways, dropped on our streets, blown out of bins or landfill, flushed down toilets, washed down storm drains and sometimes intentionally thrown into rivers. 

 “Once the plastic is in our rivers and oceans it has a devastating impact: entangling wildlife or being mistaken for food and intentionally eaten by birds, fish, and mammals - both lead to poor health and premature death. 

“Many of our towns are located directly on rivers, they make beautiful places to while away a few hours and spend time in nature.   

“When there is also easy access to heavily packaged food and drink products it is often the case that the packaging gets discarded in some of our most treasured beauty spots and contributes to the river and marine pollution.” 

Steve Churton, RWT volunteer and Surfers Against Sewage campaigner, said: “Rivers are one of the planet's most beautiful and important assets.  

“We have no right to treat them like rubbish bins and use them as open sewers. We all need to start taking action to save these amazing ecosystems before it is too late.”