Efforts to halt the mass disposal of plastic bottles containing Bible verses into the River Bann appear to have succeeded, following a public appeal earlier this year. For several years, thousands of these bottles were found scattered along the river’s banks, reed beds, and paths in Coleraine, raising environmental concerns.
The environmental group Sea2it, which had been monitoring the situation, issued a plea earlier this year to those responsible for the dumping to reconsider their actions. To the relief of many, it seems this appeal has been effective.
“There’s been a noticeable reduction in the number of new bottles appearing in the river,” said Andrew Bratton of Sea2it. “While some older bottles are still lodged in the reed beds, we haven’t seen any fresh bottles in the past two months. The condition of those we’ve found suggests they were thrown into the river some time ago, with faded messages inside.”
An Ongoing Mystery
In January, a visit to the site by BBC News NI revealed the extent of the problem, with bottles scattered throughout the river’s reed beds. The bottles, which had been carefully cleaned, dried, and filled with religious messages before being tightly sealed, were found in significant numbers, suggesting a considerable amount of effort had gone into their creation and distribution.
Despite the cessation of new bottles appearing, the mystery of who was behind the campaign remains unsolved. “We still don’t know who was doing this,” Bratton noted. “No individuals or groups have come forward to claim responsibility. However, we’re grateful that they seem to have stopped.”
Community Reaction
The story of the Bible verse bottles sparked a wide range of reactions in the local community. Sea2it’s social media pages were flooded with comments, with some residents supporting the environmental group’s stance, while others felt it was a criticism of religious expression.
“We received hundreds of messages on our Facebook page,” Bratton shared. “While some people supported our efforts, others accused us of targeting religious groups. We made it clear that our issue wasn’t with the religious content but with the method of delivery. In 2024, there are more appropriate ways to share such messages that don’t involve harming the environment.”
Persistent Pollution Issues
While the issue of the Bible verse bottles seems to be under control, other forms of pollution continue to affect the River Bann. Volunteers recently removed 18 shopping trolleys, two farm gates, and a scooter from the river, highlighting ongoing challenges in keeping the waterway clean.
Adding to the environmental concerns, blue-green algae has emerged in the river, forcing the postponement of volunteer clean-up events. “Blue-green algae is a significant challenge for us,” Bratton explained. “It’s too risky to have people working in those conditions, so we’ve had to put some of our efforts on hold.”
The success in curbing the dumping of Bible verse bottles offers a glimmer of hope for the River Bann, but it also serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against pollution in Northern Ireland’s waterways.