Clean up at the beach
Foxton Beach residents turned out to give the popular beach a clean-up at the weekend as part of the Keep New Zealand Beautiful, collecting a skip full of unwanted dumped and wash-up rubbish.
Organised by Foxton Beach resident Sonja Hart, 40 volunteers turned up to clear the area by the Manawatu River Mouth, despite the wet conditions, and three hours later had filled the skip provided by Horowhenua District Council with old tyres, broken glass, plastics and even a mattress.
Foxton Beach resident Irene Hoskins said in her experience rubbish can be old or new, local or from trawlers offshore.
“Korean toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes and fishing tackle are just some of the things my husband and I have found along the banks. The worst area for broken glass is along the waterfront from the Manawatu Boat Club to the beach,” she said.
She and husband Bob have previously picked up 20 litres of rubbish in the space of 75 minutes, and Mrs Hoskins believes council could help by introducing free inorganic rubbish collection days.
“It’s up to everyone to be more responsible,” she said.
New resident Katie Wycherley, who took part in Saturday’s clean-up, thought it was a great community event, and hoped it became a regular fixture.
It was the first time local artist Ms Hart had organised this type of event and she was grateful for the support from the Foxton Beach community, Keep New Zealand Beautiful, Horowhenua District Council, and local businesses New World, Four Square, and Target Development.