Search Results for Tag: beaches
Saving France’s beaches from a plastic invasion
About five years ago millions of mysterious plastic pieces started appearing on France’s beautiful beaches. They were filters from nearby water treatment plants, where they play a useful role. But when the treatment plants overflow, the plastic filters escape and end up polluting the environment.
One 25-year-old Frenchman heard about the plastic invasion and decided to help protect the coastal environment. As a volunteer with the Surfrider Foundation Europe he’s been picking up as many plastic pieces as he can find. And that’s not all – he’s on a mission to find out where exactly these filters are coming from to hold the polluters accountable.
Listen to the report from Charlotta Lomas in La Teste-de-Buch, France
(first published October 29, 2013):
Charleric Bailly is not only picking up as many plastic filters as he can find on France’s beaches but also tracking down the sources of plastic pollution. (Photo: C. Lomas)
- These small plastic filters, also known as biocarriers, are used in wastewater treatment plants where they play a useful role. But when the treatment plants overflow, the plastic filters escape and end up polluting the environment. (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 Beach Day at La Teste-de-Buch, France. (Photo: C. Lomas)
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:
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)
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