2015 Big Beach Clean-up to clear litter from 135 beaches & canals
Over 62 tonnes of litter cleared since 2012 
Marks & Spencer (M&S) is today calling on volunteers from Bangor to descend upon Ballyholme Beach to help pick up litter as part of the retailer’s 4th annual Big Beach Clean Up.
 
Taking place on Wednesday 13th May from 10.00am, the event will be hosted in partnership with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and invites local residents, businesses, students and societies to join them in helping to scoop up unwanted rubbish.
 
Liz McNamee, Store Manager at M&S Bangor, said: “A fantastic effort was made last year with around 250km of coastline and canals cleared which resulted in 4,000 bin bags full of litter collected across the country!
“This year we’re calling upon as many local people as possible to take part in their local Big Beach Clean Up event. It’s a great initiative that brings communities together to do something worthwhile but it’s always great fun too!”  
 
The 4th annual Big Beach Clean Up will see events take place at 135 beaches and canals up and down the country between the 7th and 13th May. It is expected that over 8,000 people (3,000 M&S employees and 5,000 M&S customers) will take part and customers can find their nearest beach clean and sign-up at www.mcsuk.org/foreverfish.
 
Most of the litter collected will be common waste items such as wrappers, drink bottles and lids as well as fishing lines. It is also likely to include wet wipes, with last week’s MCS survey reporting a 50% rise in the number found on beaches in 2014 compared to the previous year. Last year 10,950 cotton buds, 21,900 wrappers, 55,600 plastic pieces were collected. Cleaners also found an array of unusual items including false teeth, a hammer, a plastic leg, two motorbikes, a Smurf, a breast implant and an Action Man.
 
Sacha Berendji, Director of Retail at Marks & Spencer, said: “The Big Beach Clean Up is a great way to support the community and help safeguard the future of UK fish stocks. Clean waterways and beaches mean clean seas and our store colleagues up and down the country will be making preparations to clean their local beach or canal. We want as many customers as possible to be alongside them in May, it’s a simple, fun way to volunteer and make a difference.”
 
Samantha Fanshawe, MCS Chief Executive, said: “The Big Beach Clean-up has grown year on year, involving thousands of amazing volunteers ready to don gloves and bags and pick up the rubbish left behind by others, washed down from rivers or discarded from fishing boats and ships.  Beach litter levels around the UK are sadly increasing – by over 6% according to our most recent UK survey.  This fantastic partnership between M&S, charities and communities raises awareness of the issue and the need for nation-wide action across government, industry and voluntary sectors to stop litter at source.”
 
Richard Parry, Chief Executive at the Canal & River Trust, said: “Canals are havens in our towns and cities.  They are home to many endangered and much loved wildlife as well as places for people to get away from it all.  Local communities already do so much to help us look after the waterways, and it’s particularly good to have the support of M&S to keep them special places.”
 
The M&S Big Beach Clean-up is part of M&S’ Forever Fish campaign which is funded by the profits from the 5p carrier bag charge in M&S foodhalls. Since its introduction in 2008, the charge has reduced carrier bag use by 75 per cent and raised over £8 million for good causes.  
 
Since the M&S Big Beach Clean-up began in May 2012 over 20,000 people have taken part and 62.5 tonnes of litter – the weight of Challenger 2 tank – has been cleared from our canals and beaches.
 
Customers can find out more www.marksandspencer.com/plana and follow the event on twitter (@marksandspencer or search #beachclean) and facebook
(www.facebook.com/marksandspencer).