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Fishing line recycling bins are installed on Romney Marsh

14:55, 23 April 2021

updated: 15:00, 23 April 2021

Two new fishing line recycling bins have been installed on Romney Marsh in an attempt to protect wildlife.

The bins have been added at Dengemarsh and Galloways, as part of the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme.

Two new fishing line recycling bins have been added to beaches on Romney Marsh. Picture: Eric Brown
Two new fishing line recycling bins have been added to beaches on Romney Marsh. Picture: Eric Brown

The campaign is to enable the recycling of all types of fishing line, plastic spools and commercial net debris from beaches.

The group says 400 million metres of fishing line is discarded in the UK each year, adding that it takes 600 years for heavy monofilament to degrade.

The topic was highlighted in a recent Netflix documentary, Seaspiracy, which focuses on the fishing industry's impact on the oceans, and the pollution caused by discarded fishing nets and equipment.

An unveiling of the two new bins was held on Sunday.

Eric Brown, founder of Litter Picking Watch Romney Marsh, said litter is the 'bane' of his life, and can be harmful to animals.

Eric Brown recycles an old fishing line
Eric Brown recycles an old fishing line

He now hopes to introduce more bins along the coastline.

Mr Brown thanked Addison Construction and Civil Ltd and Dungeness Anglers Association for financial contributions towards the project.

He added: "We are also very pleased to say we have the full support of the Folkestone and district branch of the RSPCA in our new venture in trying to get as much fishing line as possible in to the bins so it can be sent off for recycling and be out of harms way.

"After an excellent meeting with their animal welfare officer, Lucy Awo, we are looking at ways we can yet again work together with another organisation in sorting out the bane of my life, litter.

"Which as we know is harmful to mammals and doesn’t belong where they make their home."

Read more: All the latest news from Romney Marsh

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