Every river in England polluted

Keep Britain Tidy has responded to a damning report showing no English river is free from pollution.

The Environmental Audit Committee report concluded a ‘chemical cocktail’ of sewage, agricultural waste and plastic is polluting the waters of many of the country’s rivers.

Their findings highlighted only 14% of rivers in England can currently claim to have good ecological status, and none are free from chemical contamination.

Keep Britain Tidy believes there has never been a more important time to address the barriers to cleaner and healthier waterways.

The environmental charity’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: ““Today’s report is chilling proof that we need Government to step in and act before our waterways succumb to an ecological disaster.

“Our volunteers work hard around the country every day to remove plastic litter from our environment to prevent the devastating consequences on our wildlife and marine life.

“But their efforts should not be seen as an alternative to properly funded and considered interventions, such as a strong regulatory framework and the resources to enforce it.”

“Keep Britain Tidy has long recognised the vital environmental and economic roles our waterways play, from serving as wildlife habitats to providing commercial and recreational functions.

“Our programmes continue to encourage people to consider the damaging impact litter and plastics are having on our waterways, reduce their plastic footprint and take action in their local communities to keep our rivers clean.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s WatersideCare, RiverCare and BeachCare programmes help develop and support community groups to take ownership of a waterway with volunteers encouraged to carry out regular conservation work, litter clean-ups, water quality improvement and wildlife surveying tasks.