Plastic debris from port work washes onto Hanko beaches

Large amounts of Styrofoam debris have washed onto several beaches in Hanko, with at least some of it coming from a pier renovation project at the town’s port, Yle reported. The town says cleanup has begun.

The debris has accumulated east of the start of Tulliniemi. Hanko’s environmental manager, Maria Degerlund, said she received a report of the incident last week. Strong winds over the weekend brought more rubbish ashore.

Port chief executive Anders Ahlvik told Yle’s Swedish-language service that the contractor is responsible for the construction site and for preventing littering.

The town has started cleaning the beaches and will continue as needed. Its environmental control department is monitoring the situation.

Inkeri Pekkanen, who has collected rubbish from Hanko’s beaches for years, said water levels are expected to rise in the coming days. She warned that the debris could be washed back out to sea if it is not removed quickly.