Clean-up to continue on beaches affected by wax spill

A CLEAN-UP operation on beaches along East Yorkshire’s coastline is set to continue for the rest of the week after tonnes of paraffin wax were washed up.

The yellowy-white substance was found from Danes Dyke to Fraisthorpe on Friday morning last week, although there have been reports it has been spotted over a 20-mile stretch of the coastline.

The paraffin is thought to have possibly originated from tank washings from a passing ship. Officials say it poses a very low risk to the public, but are urging people to keep their dogs on leads.

In May last year, a similar cleanup operation swung into action after clumps of wax washed up on beaches from Sandsend to Cayton Bay.

A spokesman for East Riding Council said people should avoid the substance.

He added: “The council’s beach and street cleaners have been working since Friday to remove the paraffin wax washed up on Bridlington’s north and south beaches.

“The operation has proved difficult as the wax is breaking into smaller particles, but our teams have made good progress so far and will continue with the cleanup for the rest of this week.

“By using the beach rake and by litter picking they have so far collected more than two tonnes of the wax, but that has been mixed in with sand and seaweed as it is proving hard to separate.

“The wax is of very low risk to the public and the beaches remain open, but we would urge people to stay clear of the substance, not to collect it themselves, and to please keep dogs on a lead.”

Despite the wax being washedup, it did not stop a Marine Conservation Society beach clean going ahead at Danes Dyke on Saturday morning.

Paraffin wax consists of a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons, obtained by distillation from petroleum or shale and is used in everything from candles to cosmetics.