The New Year celebrations on the banks of the Thames attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year, and even more tune in to watch it on television. However, when the celebrations were finished and the masses had left the scene, 120 council workers were left to clean the streets.
The areas around the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye were a particular focus where, over a four-hour period in the very early hours of the New Year, those council workers collected an estimated 85 tonnes of rubbish! As expected, a large amount of the rubbish consisted of dropped bottles, drinks cartons, cans and plastic bags, although the presence of an abandoned chandelier must be one of the most unusual items of waste picked up.
Whilst the waste on London's streets can be collected and correctly disposed of, the unseen litter of London may present more of a problem. A recent report compiled by scientists from the Natural History Museum and Royal Holloway, University of London, has indicated that a stream of plastic rubbish flowing along the bed of the river Thames and into the North Sea could have far-reaching effects on marine life.
At the end of 2012, the research team collected rubbish from different locations along the upper Thames estuary and managed to collect 8,490 items including plastic cigarette packaging, food wrapping and cups. Over 20% of the waste consisted of sanitary products.
So, if you have no New Year resolutions yet, why not pledge to reduce, reuse and recycle waste more? Its a simple act, and much easier than dieting.
