17 h. ago ‘We feel we’re fighting a losing battle’: the race to remove millions of plastic beads from Camber Sands

A huge cleanup effort has seen volunteers working to remove beads by hand and machine. They can only wait and see the extent of damage to wildlife and dune habitatJust past a scrum of dog walkers, about 40 people are urgently combing through the sand on hands and knees. Their task is to try to remove millions of peppercorn-sized black plastic biobeads from where they have settled in the sand. Beyond them, a seal carcass grins menacingly, teeth protruding from its rotting skull.Last week, an environmental disaster took place on Camber Sands beach, on what could turn out to be an unprecedented scale. Eastbourne Wastewater Treatment Works, owned by Southern Water, experienced a mechanical failure and spewed out millions of biobeads on to the Sussex coastline. Southern Water has since taken responsibility for the spill. Ironically, biobeads are used to clean wastewater – bacteria attach to their rough, crinkly surface and clean the water of contaminants.Camber Sands is one of England’s ...

Sport

34 h. ago Plastic beads spreading on Sussex coast after ‘catastrophic’ spill, meeting told

Local people describe devastating impact of millions of toxic beads from Southern Water site near Camber SandsWhat are bio-beads used for and how did they get spilled on to Camber Sands beach?The massive spill of plastic beads at Camber Sands is devastating for local people, wildlife and tourism and the beads are dispersing along the coast, residents heard at an emotional public meeting on Thursday.Millions of tiny, toxic plastic beads are thought to have escaped into the sea from Eastbourne sewage works in East Sussex about two weeks ago when a screen keeping them in broke. They began to wash up on Camber Sands beach last Thursday, with the situation worsening over the weekend. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Southern Water apologises for catastrophic spill of plastic biobeads in Sussex

Resulting pollution on Camber Sands beach poses threat to wildlife including dolphins and sealsSouthern Water has taken responsibility for the catastrophic spill of plastic biobeads that polluted the Sussex coastline.Local charities reported a huge spill of millions of biobeads over the weekend, washing up on beaches including Camber Sands. Andy Dinsdale, the founder of the plastic pollution campaign group Strandliners, said it was the worst pollution event he had seen. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago ‘Environmental catastrophe’ fears as millions of plastic beads wash up on Camber Sands

Southern Water is being investigated amid concerns the spill could have dire impact on rare sea lifeSouthern Water is investigating after millions of contaminated plastic beads washed up on Camber Sands beach, risking an “environmental catastrophe”.The biobeads could have a dire impact on marine life, the local MP has said, with fears rare sea life, including seabirds, porpoises and seals, could ingest them and die. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Camber Sands beach horror as 'one of worst pollution spills EVER' sparks urgent warning

Dog owners have been warned to keep dogs on leads at a popular beach while environmental groups warn the pellets, known as nurdles, pose a serious threat to marine wildlife

Events

8 d. ago Urgent warning to dog owners as thousands of 'toxic' pellets wash up on UK beaches that could prove DEADLY

The pellets, known as nurdles or bio-beads, have washed up in enormous numbers on Camber Sands beach in East Sussex.

Events