ENVIRONMENTAL volunteers have warned that large sections of the coastline are now ‘covered in debris’ after what they describe as a major maritime pollution incident involving multiple broken shipping containers.
The warning comes from Beachy Head And Seven Sisters Extreme Plastic Object Removal (Bhassexplore), a non-profit organisation based in Eastbourne dedicated to removing plastic and man-made waste from the coastline.
In a stark message posted on Facebook, the group said the scale of pollution stretching across some of Sussex’s most iconic coastal landmarks is far worse than initially feared.
According to Bhassexplore, at least four shipping containers are now believed to have broken apart at sea, spilling vast quantities of plastic, insulation foam and other synthetic materials along the coast.
The group said debris now covers the whole coast around Seaford Head and Cuckmere Haven and along to Birling Gap and Beachy Head Lighthouse, around to Hope Gap and beyond towards Eastbourne.
In their post, volunteers described the situation as an East Sussex coastline disaster, adding: “At least four containers have broken up on our incredible coastline spilling their contents and loads of insulation foams etc all along the coastline. We are getting out clearing up what we can… we cleared over 500 kilos yesterday at Birling Gap.”
The group says it will continue clean-up operations throughout the weekend at Cuckmere Haven and Hope Gap, with further organised clear-ups planned for Cow Gap, Falling Sands and the Lighthouse Zone.
This comes as councils continue to respond to the unfolding situation.
Earlier this week, a damaged container washed up on Seaford Beach, breaking apart and releasing tins of milk, onions, polystyrene and packaging along the shoreline. A further container has since been discovered upside down at Pevensey Bay, with Wealden District Council confirming a ‘strandline of polystyrene’ along much of the bay.
The cargo is believed to have been lost at sea during recent severe storms near the Isle of Wight, with some sources now suggesting multiple containers were involved in the original incident.
Eastbourne Borough Council has diverted all Neighbourhood First and street sweeping teams to focus entirely on beach clean-ups, while volunteers have also turned out in large numbers. Council leader Cllr Stephen Holt has thanked those helping, urged people to stay safe, and confirmed he has written to the Government to ask what safeguards can be introduced to prevent similar incidents in future.
Environmental groups warn that polystyrene and insulation foam pose a serious threat to marine life, as they easily break into smaller fragments that can be ingested by seabirds and sea animals.
Bhassexplore is urging anyone able to help to get involved safely and to contact them via their Facebook page or website www.bhassexplore.com, stressing that there are tonnes of plastic and synthetic materials all along our incredible coastline.
Authorities say monitoring and clean-up efforts will continue, with further updates expected as the full scale of the pollution becomes clearer.
