'It's overwhelming': Plastic from 1960s Canada washes up on Orkney's Sanday (www.bbc.com)
from HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works to world@lemmy.world on 18 Feb 10:01
https://sh.itjust.works/post/55518456

Plastic bottles and debris which appears to have originated in Canada and dates back to the 1960s and 70s has washed up on an Orkney beach.

Litter pickers say they are “overwhelmed” by the amount of plastic they have found on the shoreline at Howar Sands in Sanday over the last few weeks.

David Warner, who organises beach cleans, said he gathered 42 plastic bottles from the shore last year - yet already this year he has found hundreds.

Experts blame “fairly extraordinary weather”, with strong south-easterly winds, for the increase in “retro rubbish”.

#world

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anomnom@sh.itjust.works on 18 Feb 13:23 collapse

I wonder if any of the older plastic was previously frozen in icebergs?

Sounds like Nova Scotia had coastal land fills that are eroding into the sea. Seems like containing it there before it washes away would d be easier.

non_burglar@lemmy.world on 18 Feb 14:09 collapse

How would plastic bottles have ended up inside glaciers formed by falling snow?

anomnom@sh.itjust.works on 18 Feb 14:30 collapse

Or maybe frozen in ocean ice after collecting in a bay.

I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world on 18 Feb 15:38 next collapse

I hear hoof steps, must be a zebra!

anomnom@sh.itjust.works on 18 Feb 15:50 collapse

I’m just wondering how nobody in the Maritimes noticed 1960s land fill washing away. I also wondered why the people in the Orkneys would expect 80s and 90s trash after 60s and 70s trash, when the newer trash would be on top and would have washed away first.

non_burglar@lemmy.world on 18 Feb 17:30 collapse

That is not how icebergs form.