Over 150 Northumbrian Water volunteers took to the North East coastline this week, ahead of World Oceans Day (Sunday June 8).
Armed with litter pickers and gloves, water workers rolled up their sleeves to collect rubbish at eight different beaches stretching from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside to Saltburn, North Yorkshire.
The clean-ups, which also coincided with Volunteers’ Week (2 – 8 June), saw 14 teams collect hundreds of bags of litter.
An unopened packet of bacon and a traffic cone were among some of the strangest things found and binned by the teams.
Employees took part through the company’s volunteering scheme, Just an Hour, which empowers staff to support communities and local causes close to their heart.
Their efforts were supported by local councils and environmental partners including Durham Wildlife Trust.
Vicky Cairns, Partnerships Consultant at Northumbrian Water, who co-ordinated the company-wide beach cleaning effort, said: “We’re very proud of our people who gave their time and energy to help protect their local beaches in this way.
“The beach cleans are more than just a tidy-up and are part of our ongoing efforts to support our local communities, and protect and improve the natural environment here in the North East. Last year alone, we helped over 700 charitable causes through our employee volunteering scheme.
“We all have a part to play in keeping our beaches and bathing waters as clean and pristine as possible. That starts with simple actions—like putting litter in a bin or taking it home, and not using the toilet as a bin.
“Flushing items like wet wipes can block pipes and lead to serious environmental consequences, as often they don't break down like normal toilet paper does. Making one small change such as choosing to Bin the Wipe can really help protect our environment.”
For more information on how Northumbrian Water supports local communities and to request for volunteer support, visit the ‘Responsibility’ section of www.nwg.co.uk