Volunteers battle rain to collect 86 kg of rubbish

Saturday 09 July 2016

Four Channel Island bays are looking a little more pristine following a volunteer clean-up organised by the Cooperative Society last weekend.

Volunteers working in Jersey and Guernsey plucked up an array of debris from the beach which included fishing gear, an empty oil drum, glass, plastic and an oyster seed bag. In Jersey alone, 86 kg of rubbish was collected – all of which was then correctly disposed.

Battling the rain last Sunday, teams worked in Jersey at La Pulente and Ouaisne bays and in Guerney on Chouet and Grandes Roques.

“The weather was pretty miserable but we still had more than 100 dedicated and hardy volunteers, which was fantastic, and a testament to the community spirit we have in the islands,” Co-op chief executive Colin Macleod said.

The local Co-ops were participating in a campaign called the Co-operative Fortnight which saw 100 co-operatives across the UK sweep up their communities between 18 June and 2 July.

“The Channel Islands Co-operative Society is always keen to give back to the communities we serve and taking part in the Co-op Big Clean was the perfect way to show what can be achieved by working together,” Mr Macleod said.

In Jersey, the volunteers worked with Nurture Ecology to clear the beach and the foredune areas of Les Blanches Banques SSI and Ouasine SSI nature reserves.

“Everyone was really surprised at how much was collected in just a couple of hours and when it was all piled together, you could see not only how unsightly it was but also how damaging it could be to marine life,”’ said Mr Macleod.

“We are very fortunate to live so close to some amazing beaches and all of us have a part to play in ensuring that they are free from rubbish.”