Volunteers clean up beaches at weekend

Nearly 1,600 volunteers gathered on beaches along the Belgian coast on Sunday to help collect litter. In an initiative led by energy provider Eneco and more than a dozen Belgian surf clubs, the volunteers managed to clean up nearly 6,500kg of trash as part of the sixth Eneco Clean Beach Cup.

The annual event fits into the framework of a global action, organised this year for the 20th time by Surfrider Foundation Europe.

"We are very pleased with the massive turnout," said Eneco Clean Beach Cup organiser Sven Fransen. "In previous editions I knew almost everyone who came out, but thanks to our partners this time we reached a lot more than just surfers, a sign that many people are concerned with the litter problem on our beaches.”

“Cleaning up the beaches for good is not possible, unfortunately, as 80% of beach trash is washed up on shore by the sea,” says Fransen. “But by doing this, we draw attention to the extent of the problem."

Plastic bags, bottles and all kinds of packaging are the most common forms of waste found on Belgian beaches, followed by cigarette butts, fishing line, polystyrene and aluminium cans.