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(79 Posts)
Marmight Thu 20-Aug-20 13:52:48

216 abandoned bodyboards were found on Croyde beach over the last few weeks. In the Lake District volunteers constantly clear up after visitors. A disgusting task clearing up unmentionable items along with the usual detritus.
We are truly becoming a lazy nation expecting others to follow behind us picking up what we throw away.
What is to be done? I despair [sigh]

Summerfly Sat 22-Aug-20 12:15:40

Absolutely shocking sight to see. Apart from the lazy idle people leaving all this litter, does anyone agree that councils should play a more active role in getting to grips with this ever growing situation? There’s so much money wasted within councils. If it doesn’t line their pockets it’s not worth worrying about. There are plenty of traffic wardens about, but then that fills their coffers! Getting out there and giving these idiots huge fines is the only way this problem will be tackled.

MissAdventure Sat 22-Aug-20 11:40:12

We have the added bonus of discarded masks and gloves, now.

Kryptonite Sat 22-Aug-20 11:11:49

So much disgusting behaviour. Going back to the Japanese Bullet train comment, I was on a crowded train in this country last year, and there was a packet of crisps on the floor with the contents spilling out. Someone brought it to my attention so I wouldn't accidentally kick it or step on it. Of course, I set to and cleared up the mess and the crumbs, feeling as though many pairs of eyes were watching. Whether it made any impression I couldn't say. And yes, there was a bin between the back of the seats about a foot away from the mess. Hopefully there is less litter left on trains in these current times.

4allweknow Sat 22-Aug-20 01:03:16

Latest discovery on every one else to clear up. Mobile homes that have toilets onboard but the users too mean to pay to get on a camping site where there are waste emptying facilities are using drains at side of roads to empty their effluent onto. Disgusting for locals and don't get me started on all the litter and muck left in laybys.

4allweknow Sat 22-Aug-20 00:58:33

Thinking of all the people who can't pay rent, lost jobs all due to Covid and then there are the selfish, spoiled and lazy ones who must have whatever they want with obviously money to waste. I live in a reasonably affluent area, mainly young families where I see this selfish attitude nearly every day. Parents of 30/40 years of age indulging themselves and then their children. We are not turning into a lazy nation, we are one already.

Callistemon Fri 21-Aug-20 21:57:17

This has only been happening in recent years.
We used to live near the coast and I can't remember as much as a sweet wrapper being left at the end of a day on the beach by anyone.

GreenGran78 Fri 21-Aug-20 21:55:16

Whenever there is a big music festival people leave behind hundreds of perfectly good tents, sleeping bags, and masses of other items. They just can’t be bothered to pack them up and take them home.
I don’t know if they are re-purposed, or just dumped in landfill.

moggie57 Fri 21-Aug-20 21:18:45

sell them off for a few pounds and give to the RNLI

earnshaw Fri 21-Aug-20 20:34:24

makes you feel ashamed for the a section of the human race

MissAdventure Fri 21-Aug-20 19:07:50

It really infuriates me that people think others are there to clear up after them, their children, their dogs, and pretty much anything else.
So many people are living in awful environments around the world.

We have everything on hand to help us, but no.
Too entitled to clear up our own mess.

LadyBella Fri 21-Aug-20 18:47:49

I agree, Coconut. For goodness sake, if you enjoy the sea why on earth would you wish to pollute it? Where are their brains? We hear so much about the environment these days that nobody can not know what we are doing to the planet. Only lasts week on our local beach we saw a huge pool that children had presumably dug out, surrounded by empty drinks cans!!

Grandmama Fri 21-Aug-20 18:41:38

Perhaps the behaviour we are experiencing now in the UK is what Magaluf and other resorts have had to endure when certain Brits descended on them every year - but travel restrictions are keeping them in the UK now.

There seems to be much emphasis on the environment in schools and in the media, it's obviously falling on a lot of cloth ears.

JenniferEccles Fri 21-Aug-20 17:43:51

There is no connection Gwyneth ! None whatsoever, but some posters of a certain political leaning will take any opportunity to blame Mrs. Thatcher for everything.

Obviously of course we all know that those responsible for the dreadful state of our beaches are lazy uncaring individuals who leave their rubbish for someone else to deal with.

Incidentally the Thatchers often holidayed at Constantine Bay, and I am certain they would have been as horrified as the rest of us at the sight of a littered beach.

Peardrop50 Fri 21-Aug-20 17:31:41

Tory bashing, police bashing, softly softly courts, psychologists making excuses for bad behaviour.

Everyone except the perpetrator is to blame for all of society's ills.

Getting really fed up with Gransnet when even a thread about litter becomes a resurrection of Thatcher hatred.

timetogo2016 Fri 21-Aug-20 17:06:34

I`m with you Riverwalk.

Gwyneth Fri 21-Aug-20 17:01:08

However much I think about it I just can’t see the connection between people today littering the streets and beaches with Thatcherism!!

Callistemon Fri 21-Aug-20 16:57:16

railman

I know and understand all that.

However, I still cannot see the connection between that and the fact that we have a generation or two who will not take home their rubbish and dispose of it correctly.

Their young children learn one lesson in school and are taught another by their parents.
I doubt it is those of our generation who leave their filth behind.

polnan Fri 21-Aug-20 16:49:54

Railman, I don`t think I was suggesting"bring back hanging " for one moment

I do get so fed up with fines, fines , fines, and do they pay them?

I think they should be made to clean up the place....

railman Fri 21-Aug-20 16:47:04

JenniferEccles - of course the discarded surfboards are not Thatcher's personal fault. But - "Or if not couldn’t councils provide a facility on beaches for people to leave unwanted surfboards at the end of the day..."

I'm sure they could, if successive governments had not continued to cut funding to provide such facilities - perhaps we should look to ensuring tax avoidance by major organisations is dealt with as waste too.

railman Fri 21-Aug-20 16:42:30

Callistemon - an interesting point or two you make about rubbish piled in the streets. I don't disagree, but Thatcher began the systemic destruction of the UK's core manufacturing base - British management styles, lack of investment were equally to blame along with the extremist trade union actions. She simply took advantage with her homespun jingoism and sale of public assets, whilst frittering away the wealth generated by north sea oil and gas.

But - whilst 'cleaning the streets' - the economic recessions of the 1980s and early 90s - reinforced the monetarist grip on society. Ultimately perhaps we are reaping the unforeseen consequences of that economically damaging era from 1979/80 onwards.

The 'authorities' and government today are still seeking to blame others for the consequences of their actions and inactions. So nothing has really changed - despite the efforts of those who care for the environment in equal measure to the economy of our society.

cassandra264 Fri 21-Aug-20 16:40:24

Agree with Rosina wholeheartedly. Backbone must be shown - local and central government. Automatic fines that will really damage the offender's pocket. Prosecution for second and repeat offenders. Enforced hours of community litter picking for same. Prison terms for any proven offence known to have caused serious environmental damage and/or a risk to the health of other human beings or animals.
Also - environmental issues and citizenship to be mandatory subjects for all school and college students in Personal and Social Education.

Callistemon Fri 21-Aug-20 16:23:19

The discarded surfboards are all Margaret Thatcher’s fault.
Yes, for ridiculousness, that post has to win top prize!

Perhaps they were left over from when Sunny Jim was PM and the streets were full of filth and rats ran amok.

JenniferEccles Fri 21-Aug-20 16:04:30

Oh I see.

The discarded surfboards are all Margaret Thatcher’s fault.

I have read some stupid statements on these threads but honestly.....

Could these surfboards be recycled I wonder? Or if not couldn’t councils provide a facility on beaches for people to leave unwanted surfboards at the end of the day or holiday so that the council could dispose of them properly?

Paperbackwriter Fri 21-Aug-20 15:18:53

These are body boards not surf boards, They're very cheap and they break very easily so idiots think it's oK just to discard them. Please don't confuse this kind of behaviour with that of real surfers. Surfers tend to be very ocean-conscious and careful and often belong to Surfers Against Sewage, a charity aimed at keeping the sea clean. My daughter-in-law is a former UK surf champion - she and her friends regularly go out and do beach clearing in Cornwall. It's appalling - not only what people leave for others to tidy up but also what comes in from ships and leisure sailors out there on the water.

Jaye53 Fri 21-Aug-20 15:00:17

that freaked me out.Lazy- good - for - nothings. no pride in themselves or country. whose to blame? parents or teachers or we as a society for allowing this to happen to our beautiful beaches ?