People urged to eradicate plastics problem in UK's waterways

England's canals and rivers are being choked by discarded plastic that threatens the world's oceans, but simple steps taken by ordinary citizens could eradicate the problem in a year, according to a charity that cares for 2,000 such waterways.

The Canal and River Trust, which spends more than 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) a year on dredging England's rivers of such waste, says 14 million plastic items end up in its waterways each year. Around 570,000 of those items make their way into the world's oceans.

The charity, which carried out the research alongside academics from Coventry University, says its waterways could be plastic-free in a year if every visitor picked up and recycled a single piece of plastic each time they visit.

Richard Parry, the trust's chief executive, told the Guardian newspaper:" Plastic- and litter-free canals are beautiful, inspiring places for people to enjoy, whether for everyday use or a one-off visit, whilst also being hugely important habitats for some of the nation's much loved and endangered species."

He said community groups and individuals could take ownership of the problem and reverse the damage by picking up litter, either on an ad hoc basis or by becoming one of the trust's official volunteers.

Peter Birch, the trust's environmental policy adviser, told the BBC: "By taking a little care of their local waterway, everyone can have beauty on their doorstep. The Canal and River Trust is on a mission to eradicate plastics from our vast network of canals and rivers, helping us all to live in better, more beautiful neighborhoods, whilst tackling a global issue, and making life better by water."

The research found plastics made up 59 percent of the garbage found in inland waterways. The most commonly found items were shopping bags, drinks bottles, disposable cups, and food wrappers that made their way into the waterways after being thrown over boundary walls and fences, hurled off bridges, blown in on the wind, or washed in with rain water.

The threat to the environment from plastics has prompted the United Kingdom government to legislate for a ban on plastic straws, drink stirrers, and cotton buds that will start in April.

Michael Gove, the UK's environment secretary, told the Financial Times "urgent and decisive" action was needed.

"These items are often used for just a few minutes but take hundreds of years to break down, ending up in our seas and oceans and harming precious marine life," he said.

The British Retail Consortium says its members are working on ways to reduce reliance on plastics, including a plan to ensure packaging is,by 2025, 100 percent recyclable, reusable, or compostable.