The ripple effect from the pandemic is affecting our shorelines.
The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup tracks garbage that washes up on shore, and has released the results of its 2020 Dirty Dozen things that are showing up on our beaches.
Top of the list are cigarette butts. Next is tiny plastic or foam, followed by food wrappers, paper, and bottle caps.
According to the report, the quantity showing up has skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic with the 15 percent of all litter being food and beverage and this jumping over 10 percent to 26 last year.
Officials say the root cause is likely the prevalence of take-away food as the method of choice for eating out.
