The Clean Earth Trust’s 2024 Marine Litter Report has shown marine litter is a growing problem in Guernsey, despite a decrease in the total number of items collected compared to previous years.  

The report found that throughout last year 15,373 items were removed from Guernsey’s coast, by 387 volunteers over a total of 462 hours. 

The weight of this recovered refuse makes up more than half a tonne, with 600kg pulled from our shores and beaches in 2024. 

The figures show that the average number of items found per volunteer hour is increasing too, rising up to 33 in 2024 from 23 in 2021.  

Pictured: The Marine Litter Report has been tracking the waste washed up on local shores for a number of years, (Image Courtesy of the Clean Earth Trust.)

Of these, plastic remains the most common material, making up 82% of all items found on the shores. 

The top five items collected were plastic pieces (3,362), cigarette butts (2,476), nurdles (1,749), plastic food wrappers (1,080), and string, cord and rope (1,022).

Cigarette butts are noted as a concern because they contain plastic and toxins that can be harmful to wildlife, with on average, 33 cigarette butts being collected per beach clean. 

The data also shows that 47.2% of the surveyed marine litter was of an unknown origin, while the public was the largest identified source at 38.5%.

Pictured: Volunteers are finding more litter per person, year on year. (Image Courtesy of the Clean Earth Trust.)

​The main message from the report is that marine litter is a persistent issue requiring attention.

It’s something Andrew Munro, Chairman of the Clean Earth Trust, feels strongly about.

“We believe the cumulative publication of data in our Marine Litter Reports will continue to raise public awareness of the need to minimise waste and to dispose of it responsibly to reduce its adverse impact on our vulnerable marine ecosystem.”

The Clean Earth Trust says that although the total number of items collected has decreased, the increase in items per volunteer hour suggests the problem is intensifying. 

This metric is a key indicator that the volume of litter on the beaches is becoming more concentrated or easier to find, possibly due to fewer volunteers covering a smaller number of beaches.  

Paul Bugden, Clean Earth Trust’s Policy Officer, spoke of the vital work of volunteers.

“The work done by our wonderful volunteers to protect our marine environment is reflected in our 2024 report.”

He added: “Every beach clean conducted adds to the valuable data that can help to inform policy change on the island”.