Orkney Beach Overwhelmed by 'Retro Rubbish' from Canada

Plastic bottles and debris, seemingly originating from Canada and dating to the 1960s and 70s, have washed ashore on the Orkney island of Sanday. Beach cleaners described themselves as "overwhelmed" by the sheer volume of plastic found on Howar Sands in recent weeks. David Warner, who organizes clean-ups, noted a dramatic increase, collecting hundreds of bottles this year compared to 42 last year.

Experts point to "fairly extraordinary weather," characterized by strong south-easterly winds, as the cause for this surge of "retro rubbish." Some bottles found bear markings from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Warner expressed concern that even more detritus from the 1990s and 2000s could wash up in the future. He estimated over 300,000 pieces of polystyrene across 70 square metres alone, finding the tiny particles impossible to collect.

The accumulated litter presents a hazard to wildlife, especially as the beach is a site of special scientific interest for nesting birds. The Marine Conservation Society stated that historic litter frequently washes ashore during seasonal storms, with eroding coastal landfill sites also contributing to the release of "retro" waste. Catherine Gemmell of the society emphasized that plastic never disappears and can travel vast distances in the marine environment.

Local representatives, like John Berry of the Scottish Islands Federation, were unsurprised by the increase, attributing it to changing weather patterns bringing "legacy material." Despite the disheartening situation, Warner aims to foster a positive response by potentially forming an official beach cleaning group and exploring the use of collected plastic for an artistic sculpture to raise awareness about plastic consumption and its environmental impact.