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Generation Change

Holding polluters to account

Millions of small plastic filters started appearing on the beaches of France five years ago.

It turns out these filters are known as “biocarriers”. They come from water treatment plants, where they play a useful role. But when the treatment plants overflow, the plastic filters escape and end up in the environment.

When 25-year-old Surfrider Foundation Europe volunteer Charleric “Charlo” Bailly heard about this plastic pollution problem, he made it his mission to find out more.

Listen to the report by Charlotta Lomas in La Teste-de-Buch, France:

Holding polluters to account

Charleric Bailly is tracking down the sources of plastic pollution. (Photo: C. Lomas)

The small plastic filters, known as biocarriers, are used in wastewater treatment plants. (Photo: C. Lomas)

Catherine Gonnot, secretary of Surfrider Foundation Gironde, is appreciative of Charlo’s volunteer work. (Photo: C. Lomas)

The Surfrider Foundation organizes events like the recent Beach Day at La Teste-de-Buch, France. (Photo: C. Lomas)

Date

Tuesday 29.10.2013 | 15:17

Tags

beaches, Europe, France, plastic pollution

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