The River Tame, the worst river in the world for microplastics

Photo: Ian Royston.

Letter to the Editor:

Dreadful news has been reported that the River Tame has the worst microplastic problem in the world. (BBC1 Local News, 6.30pm on 13 March 2017)
The story is being reported by several National British Newspapers.

This microplastic problem affects a large area of the North West. The River Tame runs into the River Mersey, which in turn runs into the Irish Sea.

Everyone, all of the residents along the length of both the River Tame and the River Mersey must now act.

This means that everyone in Saddleworth, Tameside, Stockport and all the other boroughs that follow the course of the Mersey, must now take action, and this includes Merseyside.

What can resident do ? The answer is take drastic action

1. Completely ban all river and stream races involving plastic ducks. Within Tameside and Saddleworth this is a popular event, but look at the long term effects of holding a duck race on your local river. Pollution of the worst kind.
2. Completely stop the use of plastic fishing lines and flies on our Rivers, Canals, and Reservoirs.
3. Put an immediate end to your own use of unnecessary plastic. Don’t wait for Teresa May to introduce legislation. This means: No plastic straws, No plastic stirrers, No plastic cutlery. No take-away cups of coffee with plastic lids. Instead use café’s that serve you in a cup or a mug. No more take-away foods in plastic containers. No plastic coat hangers. The list is endless.
4. Lobby your locally elected representatives, Councillors and MP’s.
5. Write to chain-stores, supermarkets, breweries, and milk providers, to immediately stop the use of all unnecessary plastic, bags, tickets on clothing, drinks bottles.

We need to make drastic changes to our life styles if we are to save the River Tame for your children and grandchildren.

Do not wait until all wildlife, ducks, geese, herons, fish, are extinct on the River Tame.

Rita Vaughan
A resident who lives near the River Tame.

The Independent :

A Manchester river has the worst microplastic problem ever recorded, [a recent] study [undertaken at Manchester University] discovers. The River Tame in Denton was one of several waterways in northwest England found to have “extraordinarily” high concentrations, with levels of plastic pollution worse than in Hong Kong and South Korea.

Researchers from the University of Manchester found microplastics, tiny pieces of plastic debris such as microbeads and microfibres, are shifted into the seas, particularly after flooding.

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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