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Wermuth spent two months collecting items along
the riverside to give a snapshot of the litter that finds its
way into the waterway that runs through the heart of London. For
the photo essay, click on: http://reut.rs/2yyarEZ
A gold-plated watch, a letter in Lithuanian in a bottle and a
mobile phone were also retrieved from along the shores of the
river, which has undergone extensive cleanups since the Natural
History Museum declared the Thames biologically dead in 1957.
Today, marine life including seals, porpoises and dolphins have
been spotted swimming alongside fish and a hard drive that
Wermuth found littering the murky waters.
Pollution remains a problem. In March, Thames Water was handed a
record 20 million pound ($26 million) fine for pumping sewage
into the river. The water company apologized for its failings
and said it was working to improve rivers.
London municipal authorities say 4,000 plastic bottles were
removed from the river over a one-month period alone last year,
demonstrating the scale of the waste problem.
The impact of pollution on marine life in the Thames has in
recent years prompted campaigns to encourage Londoners to make
sure their rubbish goes in the bin - rather than the water.
(Writing by Marika Kochiashvili; Editing by Alison Williams)
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