I present this petition on behalf of the 9,915 people who have supported my campaign calling on the water companies to end the use of plastic beads in wastewater treatment. A few months ago, I had no idea that plastic beads were used in wastewater treatment, and then 300 million of them washed up on our coastline at Camber Sands and along the Sussex coast, causing an environmental catastrophe. I have since been working with the Sussex Wildlife Trust because the use of plastic beads in wastewater treatment is an outdated technology and better, modern methods exist. Why are the water companies still using them, especially in coastal areas where they can do so much damage?
The petition states:
The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that the use of plastic “biobeads” in wastewater treatment should be phased out.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons ask the Government to work with the water companies and the Environment Agency to end the use of plastic “biobeads” in wastewater treatment.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
[P003173]