Litter Free Coast and Sea

Litter not only looks horrible on our beaches, it also costs lots of money for local councils to clear it up, it is a safety issue for beach/coastal users and it can get washed into the sea, harming marine creatures and damaging fishing and recreational boating equipment.

Regular clean up events are held across Dorset and East Devon every year, with hundreds of volunteers helping to remove tonnes of rubbish from our coastline. However, with more people using our coastal areas every year, we need to aim to stop litter at its source in order to effectively maintain a beautiful and safe area for people to enjoy and to protect our internationally important sites for wildlife.

How did the campaign start?

The Litter Free Coast and Sea campaign started in October 2011 with funding by The Crown Estate, Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Sustainable Development Fund and East Devon AONB Sustainable Development Fund. The campaign was devised by a wide range of local organisations which make up the Dorset and East Devon Marine and Beach Litter Group. Organisations include; Dorset Coast Forum, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team, Dorset Countryside, Ranger Services, Natural England, Green Blue, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Dorset Waste Partnership, Exe Estuary Management Partnership, East Devon Streetscene Team, East Devon Coastal Ranger Team and The National Trust. The group is carrying out the campaign on behalf of the Jurassic Coast Trust.

The initial funding for the campaign ran out in March 2012 but the campaign is now continuing under the Litter Free Coast and Sea project.

How can I support the campaign?

You can support the Litter Free Coast and Sea Campaign by:

• Enjoying a Litter Free Lunch
  

• Shouting about the campaign! - we would like to invite every accommodation provider and coastal recreation club to help us spread the word about the campaign by displaying Litter Free Coast and Sea campaign posters (pdf, 476kb) (opens in a new window) in common areas,  or  contact Matilda Bark for hard copies of the posters.

• Put up a car sticker in your car or boat window - contact Matilda Bark to get hold of a car sticker. 

• Taking part in or organising a beach clean - Find out about local beach cleans

• Follow us on Twitter @LitterFreeCoast and Facebook - search for Litter Free Coast and Sea

Schools are also invited to get involved by downloading the "Litter Free Coast and Sea Education Pack". Created as part of the "Big Jurassic Classroom", this pack has lots of lesson ideas to help children and young people learn about the impacts of marine and beach litter. Download the pack at the Big Jurassic Classroom Website (opens in a new window)

Find out more about the impacts of marine and beach litter and other national campaigns on the  webpages.

2012 Olympic and Paralympic Beach Litter Windsurf Campaign

This involved joining up with Natural Weymouth and Portland Partnership to create a windsurf sculpture out of beach litter. The campaign was supported by Nick Dempsey, Olympic Windsurfing Silver Medalist.  Read more about the campaign in our press release. (opens in a new window)

• Take part - Have a Litter Free Lunch!

  When you are next planning your lunch/snack at the coast, follow these simple steps to help keep our coast and sea litter free.

• Dorset BeachCare Officer
  Name: Matilda Bark
  Web: http://www.dorsetcoast.com
  Email: m.bark@dorsetcc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 221752
  Mobile: 07824434105
  Full details for Matilda Bark