‘Huge spike’ in rubbish dumped on Worthing and Shoreham’s seafronts: ‘take it home’

As the Government has begun to loosen lockdown restrictions, increasing numbers of people have flocked to the beach to take advantage of the sunny weather we have been enjoying in recent days.

But according to Adur & Worthing Councils, this has created tonnes of abandoned rubbish next to bins and on the beaches themselves.

As a result, its waste teams, who have maintained a 100 percent home waste collection service during lockdown, are having to be diverted to deal with the mess.

And with the news that groups of six people can meet up outside from Monday, this could be set to get worse.

Worthing Borough Council’s executive member for the environment, councillor Edward Crouch, said: “The majority of people are behaving sensibly but a small minority don’t seem to care.

“It really isn’t difficult to understand. If you have rubbish and our bins are full you must take it back home with you.”

Extra bins have been placed along the seafront, along with extra rubbish collection rounds, but the waste is continuing to pile up.

Smouldering disposable barbecues have also led to a number of fires, putting bin men and women at risk.

Councillor Emma Evans, who holds the same brief as Mr Crouch on Adur District Council, said: “The actions of this minority are simply selfish. Abandoned rubbish is picked at by seagulls and other animals and spread around. If you bring items with you it should be very simple to take the waste back home with you.
“Our waste service teams have been performing superbly during lockdown making sure all residents have a normal collection but they are being increasingly diverted to deal with this thoughtlessness.”
A council spokesman said they had the power to fine litter offenders, but were ‘hoping common sense will prevail instead’.