Spanish ecologists are calling for the authorities to take action after two videos surfaced showing rivers of plastic flowing in the province of Almería.<br /><br />The two clips, which were shared with the Ecologists in Action group, show the dry riverbeds beginning to flow again last week after heavy rains <br /><br />However, instead of a glorious rebirth of the river-system, waves of discarded plastic float into view.<br /><br />Ecologists in Action say the blame lies squarely with local farmers. <br /><br />The province of Almería produces vast quantities of fruit and vegetables which end up in the supermarkets of northern Europe. <br /><br />To maximise their returns, farmers grow their crops using make-shift plastic greenhouses, known locally as "plasticos".<br /><br />In some parts of Almería, there are so many of these structures that it has become known as ''The Sea of Plastic''. <br /><br />Ecologists in Action say that some farmers and farm workers are illegally dumping plastic sheeting from the greenhouses and other waste materials in the dry riverbeds close to their farms. <br /><br />What makes matters worse, say Ecologists in Action, is that when the riverbeds fill with water, this plastic then flows into the sea.<br /><br />"Firstly, those responsible need to start properly disposing of their plastic waste," Ecologists in Action said in a written statement.<br /><br />"Second, the local administration of Andalusia needs to urgently crack down on the dumping of plastic in rivers, while also providing proper alternatives for recycling," the statement reads. <br /><br />"Finally, the local authorities need to urgently begin a clean-up operation of these riverbeds."
