New fishing waste recycling bins to keep Dorset coast litter free

They are now in place at a number of locations

Author: Helen DownPublished 29th May 2021

Weymouth, West Bay, and Lyme Regis now have new recycling bins for fishing waste.

It means things like old nets, and lines can be turned into things like kayaks.

Odyssey Innovations provided the bins and worked with Litter Free Coast and Dorset Council to get them installed.

Bob Summerhayes, Weymouth & Portland Fishermen and Licensed Boatman's Association said:

"Currently, our waste fishing gear is disposed into wheelie bins and taken to landfill so we are extremely pleased to know that we will now be able to recycle our old gear into new useful items and in so doing, improve our environmental impact.

"We particularly want to thank Odyssey Innovation, along with Dorset Council and those that coordinated to bring this great scheme to Weymouth Harbour."

James Radcliffe, Bridport Harbour Master said:

"We are really grateful to Odyssey Innovation and Litter Free Coast and Sea for helping us set this up. Our local fishermen have been wanted to get something like this in place for a while so we are all excited to start using it."

Odyssey Innovations will be sending all of the materials collected to be recycled and will be keeping track of the amount that Dorset fishermen recycle each year.

Matilda Manley, Coordinator for Litter Free Coast and Sea said:

"We have some brilliant fishermen in Dorset who are real custodians of the sea.

"This scheme will help them do even more to help create a litter free sea locally, so we are very grateful to Odyssey Innovations for setting up and delivering this fantastic scheme for free in this area".

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