Anti-litter campaigners and Monmouthshire’s recycling and waste staff have appealed to residents for help to counter the increasing amount of litter left on the banks of the River Wye at Monmouth.  Groups of people congregating on the riverside have left huge quantities of cans as well as plastic and glass bottles on a regular basis.

Volunteer litter pickers have cleared the site but struggle to cope with the amount of rubbish abandoned.  The council has offered further help to the volunteers.

Local anti-litter campaigner Emma Bryn said: “We are so lucky to live in such a stunningly beautiful part of the country, which we share with some amazing wildlife. Littering here is thoughtless on so many levels.  We are very privileged to live and enjoy this incredible area and so ask that anyone taking bottles and cans to any location, including this beautiful riverside spot, should take their empties home and recycle them.”

Councillor Jane Pratt, Monmouthshire’s cabinet member with responsibility for recycling and waste added: “Despite the phenomenal response to the issue of plastics in our oceans raised in the BBC series The Blue Planet, we hear that local volunteers are struggling to cope with the amount of litter on our river banks.  Such littering is particularly damaging to the environment as it can easily enter the river and ultimately the sea where it will cause significant harm.  Please remember that this is your environment, please respect it and keep it beautiful by taking your litter home.” For further information log onto https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/dogfouling/