Surfers Against Sewage

Surfers Against Sewage is a UK-based non profit-making organisation campaigning for clean, safe recreational waters, free from sewage effluents, toxic chemicals, marine litter and nuclear waste. SAS was set up in 1990 by a small group of surfers who noticed that they were frequently ill after surfing and found that it was polluted water that was causing it.

SAS launched a "Return to Offender - Address Known" campaign in 2006 and since then have been sending back litter found on the beaches to its "owners".

Excerpt:
It's not always easy identifying the source of the litter but when we've been able to do that we've sent the owners a postcard urging them to do more to prevent litter like theirs impacting on the beach environment like it is now.

In particular we are calling for companies;

  • To step up the 'anti-littering' message on their products
  • To look at using less harmful packaging to ensure products can be broken down naturally without putting wildlife at risk.
  • To promote recycling and/or reuse wherever possible
  • To support community beach litter initiatives or 'anti-litter' projects