Something a resident of the English Town of Weymouth would not expect to find drifting up to the shore is a trash bin from Baldwin County, Alabama. Well, that’s exactly what happened to Ryan Stalker, who found the Baldwin County trash bin at Bowleaze Cove Sunday.

According to a report from BBC, Stalker is an underwater photographer and says the discovery of the trash bin sheds light on a larger problem of plastic waste in our waters.

A long journey for a trash bin

The trash bin is estimated to have drifted more than 4,000 miles, and is thought to have started its “journey” during Hurricane Sally in 2020. The bin was reportedly traced back to Fort Morgan, Alabama.

Stalker said officials from Baldwin County issued an apology to him about the bin, and said he did not think an apology was necessary.

“The refuse department from Alabama got in touch with me apologizing for it washing up on our beach, which I thought was nice of them to do but not necessary, it’s an accident.”

Ryan Stalker

Stalker said he thinks this discovery shows how big a problem waste is in our waters.

“I don’t think people appreciate how far plastic waste is travelling. When you actually have a bin which says ‘Alabama’ on it, I think it opens people’s eyes to what is going on.”

Ryan Stalker

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