Latest news with #beachpollution
The Sun
18-07-2025
- The Sun
Britain's ‘DIRTIEST beaches' revealed where sand strewn with broken glass & faeces-covered napkins – is yours on list?
BRITAIN'S dirtiest beaches have been revealed, with visitors reporting human faeces and drug paraphernalia strewn across the sand. With the school summer holidays now just around the corner and more hot weather on the way, many families are likely making plans to take a trip to the beach. However, there are some beaches you might want to avoid... Skegness According to plastic waste experts from the dirtiest beach in the UK is Skegness Beach, in Lincolnshire. 4 The popular seaside resort may boast a bustling pier and an exhilarating theme park, but is also has the most amount of Tripadvisor reviews that mention litter. One tourist described the beach as "dirty and run down", whilst another complained that their children were "pulling out cups and straws and items of clothing out of the sand". Shockingly, the most recent review for the beach, posted in June 2025, described seeing "human waste and serviettes covered in faeces." However, many others described it as having "miles and miles of sandy, beautiful beaches" and as being "glorious." Margate Main Sands Margate Main Sands ranks second on the list, with visitors complaining about broken glass, dog poo and rubbish. One reviewer said: " The whole place is a dive! 4 "It seems to be used as the toilet of Kent." Another reviewer fumed: "Filthy, filthy, filthy. Rubbish is everywhere in the sea and on the beach. Glass bottles floating in the sea and used nappies all over the beach." However, many others had a very pleasant experience at the Kent beach, with one person describing it as being a "beautiful and safe beach", and another stating that it has a "brilliant white beach." Formby Beach Formby Beach, known for its sand dunes and diverse wildlife, is third on the list, with visitors describing seeing the sand littered with drug paraphernalia, disposable BBQs and litter. 4 One reviewer said: "The beach was such a disappointment, it was full of house bricks and broken glass and resembled a building site rather than a beach." A second person said: "The problems are multiple. Parking, litter, overcrowding, violence, drink and drugs." The research also found that the cleanest beaches in the UK are Southwold Pier, Sandsend Beach and Horsey beach which all have zero reviews mentioning litter. Graham Matthews, expert at Business Waste said: "Litter on the UK's beaches turns our natural beauty spots into an eyesore and poses a huge environmental threat to marine life. "Each year, as the weather heats up, we see a sharp rise in people flocking to the seaside, but sadly, many don't clean up after themselves. It's common to find food packaging, disposable BBQs, and even human and animal waste scattered across our shores. 'All this unsightly litter ruins the enjoyment of our beaches, but it also threatens local wildlife. 'Beachgoers must take responsibility for the impact of their visit. You should always bin any litter or take it home with you if this isn't possible."
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Travel + Leisure
17-06-2025
- Health
- Travel + Leisure
This Florida Beach Has the Highest Bacteria Rates in the State
Not every beach or waterway in Florida is a pristine stretch of white beach. One stretch of water in Miami is officially dirty. The SurfRider foundation released their rankings of the top "Beach Bacteria Hot Spots" in the U.S., and it has declared Park View Kayak Launch in Miami Beach, Florida, as a bacteria hot spot, ranked at 90 percent. The water is highly polluted, making it unsafe for swimming. The Beach Bacteria Hot Spots that are ranked represent a variety of recreational waters, beaches, and access points that are important to local communities, but threaten public health. During 2024, SurfRider's Blue Water Task Force processed more than 10 thousand water samples from 604 sampling sites to determine which spots had unsafe levels of bacteria. The organization works to inform communities about public health, as well as advocate for the protection and clean-up of heavily polluted beaches. The Blue Water Task Force works year-round to provide public health protection even during the off-season when water samples generally are not being collected. The problem at Park View Kayak Launch began when a sewer main broke in March 2020, flooding the water with pollution. Usually, pollution from a sewer main break only lasts for a few days, but for many reasons, including outdated infrastructure, the pollution has persisted at Park View Kaway Launch for years. The city has an action plan to address the issue, but despite efforts, the water continues to have unsafe levels of sewage in it. 'The Park View Canal "no contact with the water" advisory remains in place for the area adjacent to the kayak launch at 73 Street. Water sampling results continue to show a fecal indicator bacteria concentration that exceeds recreational water quality standards established by the Florida Department of Health,' the Miami Beach website states. A "No Contact With Water" sign at the Kayak Launch. Visitors to Miami should be aware of the 'no contact' order and avoid getting too close to the sewage-polluted water, as it could be deleterious for health until the waterway is sufficiently cleaned. 'At Surfrider, we believe everyone should have access to clean water to surf, swim, and play in. Improving coastal water quality has been one of our top priorities since the Surfrider Foundation was founded in 1984,' the SurfRider website states.
