Phone: 01394 445225 | Email: [email protected]

Beachwatch 2021 Results

Beach Clean

Volunteers complete a beach clean at Shingle Street

The results of the litter surveys carried out by volunteers in Suffolk during 2021, as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s Beachwatch scheme, show that 81.08kg of litter was cleared from the coast & estuaries in the AONB.

Most beachwatch events that took place were in September for the Great British Beach Clean. Many individuals and families who walked along the coast and estuaries on their daily exercise picked up litter.

Key Beachwatch 2021 Facts

  • 19 litter surveys were carried out
  • 339 volunteers took part in Beachwatch surveys
  • 7,762 items of litter were recorded
  • 76.6% of litter collected was made of plastic or polystyrene
  • 659 plastic food wrappers were collected

Top 10 Litter Items

8 out of the top 10 litter items in the AONB were of plastic composition:

  1. Plastic / Polystyrene Pieces (0-50cm) – 2,310.2 items found
  2. Packets: crisp/sweet/ lolly / sandwich – 658.5 items found
  3. Cigarette stubs – 451 items found
  4. Fishing line (angling) – 382 items found
  5. Plastic caps / lids – 259.5 items found
  6. Tangled nets/cord/rope and string without dolly rope or mixed with dolly rope -- 255 items found
  7. Cotton bud sticks – 227 items found
  8. String/cord – 205.2 items found
  9. Other 0-50cm (Total) - 180.5 items found
  10. Plastic/polystyrene pieces 50cm+ - 164 items found

We are very grateful to everyone for their valuable contribution in helping to look after the Coast & Heaths AONB and wider marine environment.