THE STATE OF OUR CITY IN 2018
THESE shocking pictures show the toll our dependence on disposable plastics is taking on the natural world.
This swan is nesting amid a mass of plastic bottles among reeds in the heart of Wales’ capital city.
The picture was taken on the River Taff near Clarence Embankment in Cardiff.
Other images captured in the same area show more bottles, balls, bags and detritus captured by a litter boom designed to stop the awful legacy of our throwaway culture reaching Cardiff Bay.
The governments in Cardiff Bay and Westminster are both investigating plans for a plastic deposit scheme to reduce the amount of plastic waste throttling life in our rivers, seas and oceans.
Friends of the Earth predicts that, without action, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.
Despite the growth in recycling, the plastic bottle recycling rate in the UK is only around 45% – half that of Germany and Sweden.
Photographer Matthew Horwood captured the image of the swan on Sunday afternoon.
He said the bird was struggling to escape from the waste.
Matthew, 30, said: “It was near the River Taff in Butetown. I don’t really know where it came from but it was a bit of a mess. The swan was perched in bits of plastic.
“It must have been uncomfortable to get caught up in. It wasn’t very nice to see.”
Matthew said it was “dangerous” for the swans – especially if there were babies nearby.
Litter booms have been at work in the River Taff collecting plastic waste for nearly 16 years.
The booms, similar to those used on the Thames and Manchester, were deployed by Cardiff Harbour Authority to stop litter which is then collected by a boat called Harbour 1 – a specially-designed boat bought that scoops up floating debris.
But they have the effect of creating floating islands of detritus in the middle of the river.
Friends of the Earth is urging people to use less plastics and has started a #PlasticFreeFriday campaign to ask people to stop using single-use plastics for one day of the week.