Clean-up team expanding as they battle more container debris in West Sussex

Friday, 12 December 2025 05:00

Private contractors brought in to deal with the wreckage of 11 shipping containers that washed up along the West Sussex coastline are now increasing the size of their clean-up team, as more debris continues to come ashore.

Ambipar, the environmental response firm leading the operation, confirmed that additional staff are being deployed to beaches in Selsey, Pagham and Bognor Regis after large amounts of metal, plastic and polystyrene insulation were found strewn along the shoreline. The materials are believed to have spilled from the containers lost at sea late last week, triggering a significant coastal clean-up effort and raising concerns among local communities.

Teams have already removed substantial quantities of waste, but changing tides and strong winds mean fresh debris is still being discovered. Ambipar says the expanded workforce will allow crews to cover a wider area more quickly, ensuring that hazardous material is removed before it can be broken down further or washed back out to sea.

Local councils and the Coastguard are continuing to work alongside contractors to monitor beaches and assess environmental impact.

Residents are being urged to play a vital role in the ongoing operation by reporting any new debris they spot along the coast.

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