More than 145 tonnes of waste material that washed ashore along the West Sussex coastline in recent weeks has now been collected and safely disposed of, as a major clean-up operation continues across the county.
The debris, which includes organic material, metals, plastics, foam and sections of shipping containers, originated from cargo ships off the south coast during stormy conditions in December and January. Recovery work remains ongoing as teams continue to clear affected beaches and sensitive coastal areas.
The operation is being led and coordinated by West Sussex County Council, working alongside Arun District Council and Chichester District Council, with support from specialist contractors and partner organisations. Authorities say the main priorities remain public safety and protecting the natural environment, with work continuing right along the county’s coastline.
Ambipar’s waste recovery teams are carrying out much of the clean-up, using a combination of hand litter-picking and specialist vacuum equipment to remove small particles of plastic and foam. All material collected is carefully segregated before being transported away for appropriate disposal.
Over the weekend, large pieces of foam were successfully recovered from Medmerry Nature Reserve, to the west of Selsey Bill, with permission from the RSPB. Further efforts are continuing in the area to remove any remaining fragments while minimising disturbance to wildlife.
Meanwhile, contractor AR Banks continues complex recovery work to remove container debris from beaches across West Sussex. This involves detailed surveying and planning to assess logistics before safely lifting sections of containers. Over the weekend, large container pieces were recovered from beaches at Littlehampton and Bognor Regis, with further operations planned where required.
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