Bin thrown off pier by vandals in West Sussex washes up 450 miles away in Germany

A Worthing council bin, which went on an amazing six month adventure before washing up on a German island 450 miles away. Picture: Frerk Richter/PA Wire

After a six month journey at sea, the bin displaying the Worthing crest ended up at the island home of Frerk Richter.

It was discovered by Herr Richter who lives on Borkum, a small island and popular tourist destination in the Leer District in north west Germany.

He contacted Worthing Borough Council to share news of the bin’s epic voyage.

The bin after it washed up on a German island. Picture: Frerk Richter/PA Wire

Andrew Mugan, a project officer in the Waste and Recycling team who received Herr Richter’s email, said: ‘It’s certainly one of the most unusual emails we’ve received.

‘I’m astounded that the bin ended up on the shores of Borkum in Germany.

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‘Having looked on Google maps, it’s really quite a journey - it must have taken about six months to get there.

‘At least from an environmental point of view, the bin is no longer in the sea.’

From Worthing, the bin would have travelled across the English Channel and the North Sea before being washed up on the shores of Borkum.

It has now taken up permanent residency on the island, having been transformed into a plant holder in Herr Richter’s garden. He said: ‘I cleaned the bin with a pressure washer and it now looks great.

‘I then put it in our garden, put a plant in it and my daughter finished it off by adding a birdhouse to the top.’

A council spokesman said that, while there is a happy ending to this story, throwing items in the sea is a serious issue.

It is estimated that 8 million metric tons of plastic alone are dumped into the ocean every year.

Adur & Worthing Councils are committed to stewarding, protecting and improving the environment and urges its residents to help keep our oceans clean.

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