Tyres and synthetic clothes 'big cause of microplastic pollution'

Up to 32,000 tonnes of microplastics enter British waterways each year, says Friends of the Earth

Vehicle tyres and synthetic clothing are the two leading contributors to microplastic pollution from UK households, according to a new report from Friends of the Earth.

The report estimates that between 9,000 and 32,000 tonnes of microplastic pollution enter British waterways each year from just four sources. The two leading sources are tyre abrasion, with between 7,000 and 19,000 tonnes entering surface waters each year, and clothing.