October 28, 2026 - 196 views
Bottles, cigarette ends, fishing line, bags of dog waste and even discarded underwear were among the rubbish found during a beach clean at Pwllheli’s West Beach.
Fifteen members of staff from Harlech Foodservice joined members of South Caernarfonshire Soroptimists to remove litter from the popular stretch of coastline as part of Beachwatch, the Marine Conservation Society’s annual campaign to monitor pollution on beaches across the UK.
The rubbish was collected and recorded by Pen Llŷn and Sarnau project officers before being placed in bags for disposal by Gwynedd Council.
The findings included plastic fragments, balloon material and lengths of fishing line, which can pose a risk to marine wildlife. Discarded fishing tackle can entangle animals, while plastic waste can break down into smaller pieces and enter the marine food chain.
The clean-up also uncovered significant amounts of litter among the dunes, prompting concern from volunteers about the impact of careless disposal on the coastline.
Marjorie Griffin, from South Caernarfonshire Soroptimists, said: “We've found a lot of litter on the beach and in the dunes. It's a pity people don't respect the beach and their environment.”
Fellow member Sara Williams said the group regularly took part in local fundraising activities and occasionally joined environmental clean-ups.
Harlech Foodservice, an independent family-owned business based in Llanystumdwy, helped organise the visit, with staff joining the volunteers to collect rubbish and support the conservation effort.
Mel Amor, a contract support manager at the company's head office, helped coordinate the staff participation. Finance director Mike Clishem also took part, saying local businesses had a role to play in supporting their communities and improving the environment.
The company has operated for more than 50 years and supplies customers across the catering and hospitality sectors from sites in Wales and England. Its involvement in the clean-up provided an opportunity for employees to contribute directly to a local environmental project alongside community volunteers.
Pwllheli’s West Beach forms part of the Pen Llŷn a'r Sarnau Special Area of Conservation, a protected marine area extending along the coast of north-west Wales and south towards Cardigan Bay. The designation recognises the importance of its marine habitats and the species they support.
Keeping litter out of these environments is important not only for wildlife but also for people who use the coast for recreation and tourism. Fishing line and other debris can create hazards, while rubbish left on beaches and in dunes can damage the appearance and condition of these sensitive places.
Seren Harris, marine project officer at Gwynedd Council, said the area around Pwllheli supported a range of important marine habitats and species.
She said community projects could help improve the condition of the marine environment, adding that the beach clean would make the area cleaner and safer for people and wildlife while contributing to wider efforts to prevent litter reaching the sea.
The Beachwatch campaign has been running for more than 30 years. Its surveys provide a snapshot of the types and quantities of litter found on the UK's coastline, helping the Marine Conservation Society identify patterns and build evidence for changes in government policy and business practices.
The information gathered during the Pwllheli survey will be added to the society’s national database, where it can help inform future campaigns and efforts to tackle marine pollution.
The clean-up brought together people from different parts of the local community, demonstrating how residents, voluntary groups, public bodies and local businesses can contribute to looking after the coastline.
However, the amount and variety of rubbish found serve as a reminder that beach cleans are only part of the solution. Preventing litter from being discarded in the first place remains essential to protecting the coast and the wildlife that depends on it.
