Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and the Environment, has spoken out about the need for Welsh Water to reduce the risk of thousands of plastic discs being released into Welsh seas.
The call comes following an incident at the Fabian Way facility due to a power failure, which coincided with increased wastewater flows.
The non bio-degradable discs have been found on beaches at Langland, Caswell, Three Cliffs, Pwll Du, Tor Bay, Oxwich, Pobbles, Port Eynon, Mewslade, Slade, and Rhossili.
The plastic discs could be ingested by marine life, damaging their health. They could also be broken down into microplastics which harm the environment and food chain.
Commenting on the plastic spill, Janet said:
“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved with the major cleanup. Thousands of plastic discs which pose a genuine threat to our environment have been removed.
“Whilst I welcome the fact that Natural Resources Wales are undertaking an investigation, Welsh Water needs to outline in detail what steps will be taken to reduce the risk of this happening again at any of their facilities.
“When residents are doing so much to recycle and tackle fly-tipping, and we are living in both a climate and nature crisis, a spill like this is deeply distressing and should not even be possible.
“Should we have a proper Office of Environmental Protection set up in Wales, this would be a perfect case for them to consider”.
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Mae Janet Finch-Saunders AS Ysgrifennydd yr Wrthblaid dros Newid Hinsawdd a'r Amgylchedd, wedi siarad am yr angen i Dŵr Cymru leihau'r risg o ollwng miloedd o ddisgiau plastig i'n moroedd ni.
Daw'r alwad yn dilyn digwyddiad yng nghyfleuster Fabian Way oherwydd methiant pŵer, a oedd yn cyd-fynd â chynnydd mewn llif dŵr gwastraff.
Cafodd disgiau sydd ddim yn bioddiraddadwy eu darganfod ar draethau Langland, Caswell, Bae y Tri Chlogwyn, Pwll Du, Bae Tor, Oxwich, Pobbles, Porth Einon, Mewslade, Slade, a Rhosili.
Gallai bywyd y môr lyncu'r disgiau hyn, gan niweidio eu hiechyd. Gallent hefyd ddadelfennu'n ficroplastigau sy'n niweidio'r amgylchedd a'r gadwyn fwyd.
Wrth sôn am y sbwriel plastig, dywedodd Janet:
“Hoffwn ddiolch i bawb sydd wedi bod yn rhan o gynllun glanhau'r traethau. Mae miloedd o ddisgiau plastig sy'n fygythiad gwirioneddol i'n hamgylchedd wedi'u casglu o'r traethau.
“Er 'mod i'n croesawu'r ffaith bod Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn cynnal ymchwiliad, mae angen i Dŵr Cymru amlinellu'n fanwl pa gamau fydd yn cael eu cymryd i leihau'r risg y gallai hyn ddigwydd eto yn unrhyw un o'u cyfleusterau.
“Pan fydd trigolion yn gwneud cymaint i ailgylchu a mynd i'r afael â thipio anghyfreithlon, a ninnau'n byw mewn argyfwng hinsawdd a natur, mae gollyngiadau fel hyn yn hynod ofidus ac ni ddylai fod yn bosibl hyd yn oed.
“Pe bai gennym Swyddfa Diogelu'r Amgylchedd briodol wedi'i sefydlu yng Nghymru, byddai hyn yn achos perffaith iddyn nhw fynd i'r afael ag o".
DIWEDD
