Fast food outlet McDonalds is teaming up with the charity Beach Buddies to support their beach cleaning work around the Isle of Man.

McDonalds has offered to provide free drinks vouchers to all Beach Buddies volunteers and members of the company’s Peel Road staff have started joining in with beach cleaning sessions.

“We like the work that Beach Buddies is doing around the Island, and we wanted to show our support,” said Lidia Silva, relations manager at McDonalds in Douglas.

“Some of our staff have already attended beach cleaning sessions, and really enjoyed the experience, and we have more keen to take part in the future.”

The link-up with McDonalds has been warmly welcomed by Beach Buddies. Founder Bill Dale said, “It has to be said that some of the most common items to be found on our beaches are fast-food containers, and I’m sure McDonalds get the blame for them all, which is a bit unfair as the majority do not have any logo of any sort.

“But it’s sadly true that people throw their fast-food and drinks containers in the street, and they get flushed down the drains, into the rivers, out to sea and eventually end up on our beaches.

“McDonalds also recognise that this is a problem, and they want to encourage their customers, and everyone else who uses fast food outlets, to be more responsible.

“So, we are working on a joint project to raise awareness about the damage that can be caused to the environment and wildlife by litter and we will be making some announcements shortly.”

McDonalds is celebrating its 40th year in the UK, and has been in the Isle of Man since 2001. They are keen to get involved in the new project, and to encourage the public to dispose of all litter, not just fast-food containers, in the proper way.

Lidia Silva of McDonalds added, “This is a very positive project, and we are very happy to give our full support to Beach Buddies in what they are trying to achieve.

“Our first beach cleaning session showed us that there is an ongoing problem with litter, and we want to play our part in making a difference alongside organisations such as Beach Buddies.”

McDonalds staff have now taken part in four different beach cleaning sessions with Beach Buddies since November, and have organised a series of regular staff events for the future.

Photo - McDonalds staff on their latest beach cleaning session with Beach Buddies, at Ballaugh beach.