social media icons, twitter icon 

Ards and North Down Borough Council could be the first in NI to have seabins

A series of unique and innovative ways of protecting the environment are being introduced by Ards and North Down Borough Council.  The projects are being funding by the Recycling Community Investment Fund set up in 2016 from savings achieved through residents committment to the councils recycling schemes.

One particular project is the purchase of 3 Seabins to be located around the Ards and North Down Borough Council coastline - the longest coastline of any local authority in Northern Ireland.  Its 110 miles of coastline draws tourism as a result of its waterways, harbours and marinas and this initiative will help in the fight against the eight million pieces of plastic that find their way into oceans daily, making the sea a cleaner and safer place for both residents and local marine wildlife.

A seabin is a floating natural fibre rubbish bin that moves up and down with the tide collecting floating rubbish. Water is sucked in from the surface and passes through a catch bag inside the bin with a submersible water pump.  Water is pumped back into the marina leaving litter and debris trapped in a special catch bag so it can be disposed of properly.  The brainchild of two Australian surfers, Pete Ceglinski and Andrew Turton, seabins can collect up to half a ton of debris every year.

Ards and North Down Borough Council will monitor and record the amount and type of waste collected.

Other innovative projects as a result of the fund include:

  • The purchase of 35 gumbins to prevent the disposal of gum on the streets resulting in not only an unsightly appearance but also expensive clean-up costs 
  • Compostable straws will be provided to local cafes invloved in the councils street licensing regime
  • The provision of large litter packs for 14 post primary schools
  • The provision of 10 A-frame beach clean boards with litter picks and bags to encourage a '2 minute beach clean' by members of the public
  • Replacement of bottle banks at some of the councils Bring Bank sites