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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/24/bikes-baths-and-bullets-among-items-found-in-countrys-waterways
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Bikes, baths and bullets among items found in country's waterways | Bikes, baths and bullets among items found in country's waterways |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A tandem bike, a tin bath and a 16ft dead python are just some of the items dumped in canals and rivers, a survey conducted this winter revealed. | A tandem bike, a tin bath and a 16ft dead python are just some of the items dumped in canals and rivers, a survey conducted this winter revealed. |
Related: Beneath the waterline: share your photos of discarded waste | |
They are among the stranger objects recovered in a four-month survey of rubbish thrown in waterways, as part of a £45m restoration and repairs programme by the Canal and River Trust. | They are among the stranger objects recovered in a four-month survey of rubbish thrown in waterways, as part of a £45m restoration and repairs programme by the Canal and River Trust. |
The bizarre rubbish joins a Volkswagen campervan, a bus stop sign, an unexploded second world war grenade, a bag of bullets and a pizza delivery bike still carrying a pizza, which have all been recovered in the past five years. | The bizarre rubbish joins a Volkswagen campervan, a bus stop sign, an unexploded second world war grenade, a bag of bullets and a pizza delivery bike still carrying a pizza, which have all been recovered in the past five years. |
The Canal and River Trust is revealing the things it pulls from the waterways to highlight the £1m annual cost to the charity to clear dumped rubbish, which it says could be spent on improving habitat for wildlife and ensuring waterways are clear for boaters. | The Canal and River Trust is revealing the things it pulls from the waterways to highlight the £1m annual cost to the charity to clear dumped rubbish, which it says could be spent on improving habitat for wildlife and ensuring waterways are clear for boaters. |
The trust also warns that it cannot recover every item that is dumped, from the weird to long-lasting litter such as plastic bags and fizzy drinks cans, which go on causing problems to waterway users and wildlife as they linger under the waterline. | The trust also warns that it cannot recover every item that is dumped, from the weird to long-lasting litter such as plastic bags and fizzy drinks cans, which go on causing problems to waterway users and wildlife as they linger under the waterline. |
Tyres and other rubbish contain pollutants that leak into the water and poison fish and other creatures, while rubbish can pose a choking hazard or trap wildlife, according to the charity, which looks after 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales. | Tyres and other rubbish contain pollutants that leak into the water and poison fish and other creatures, while rubbish can pose a choking hazard or trap wildlife, according to the charity, which looks after 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales. |
The survey shows that the typical tennis court-sized canal lock contains one bicycle, one shopping trolley, one traffic cone, 67 glass bottles, four tyres, 150 plastic bags, 23 cans and three windlasses, or lock keys. | The survey shows that the typical tennis court-sized canal lock contains one bicycle, one shopping trolley, one traffic cone, 67 glass bottles, four tyres, 150 plastic bags, 23 cans and three windlasses, or lock keys. |
Peter Birch, national environment manager for the Canal and River Trust, said: “I’m constantly surprised at what people throw into the canal and the quantity of litter that we retrieve. | Peter Birch, national environment manager for the Canal and River Trust, said: “I’m constantly surprised at what people throw into the canal and the quantity of litter that we retrieve. |
“Dealing with the problem is a big task and the money could be better spent enhancing the canals for people and wildlife to enjoy for years to come.” | “Dealing with the problem is a big task and the money could be better spent enhancing the canals for people and wildlife to enjoy for years to come.” |
The charity is calling on people to think twice about polluting their local canal or river with old plastic bags and litter, and encouraging people who want to lend a hand in looking after the waterways to join its volunteer “towpath taskforce”. | The charity is calling on people to think twice about polluting their local canal or river with old plastic bags and litter, and encouraging people who want to lend a hand in looking after the waterways to join its volunteer “towpath taskforce”. |