An ordinary wheelie bin from Alabama, USA, has completed an extraordinary 4,000-mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean, washing up on a beach in Weymouth, Dorset. The bin was lost during Hurricane Sally in 2020 and has since been drifting at sea for nearly six years.
Ryan Stalker, a 46-year-old engineer and underwater photographer, discovered the large rubbish bin on Bowleaze Cove during the strong winds of Storm Chandra. Noting the unmistakable “Alabama” inscription on its side, Ryan recognized this find as exceptional among the many items he often encounters while exploring British shores.
Curious about its origin, Ryan shared photos of the bin in a local Dorset photography Facebook group. The post quickly gained international attention, drawing responses from Alabama, including the waste management company responsible for the bin’s collection. After examining a partial identification code on the bin, the company traced it to Fort Morgan, a community on Alabama’s coast severely impacted by Hurricane Sally in 2020.
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The firm explained that many bins were lost or buried during the storm, and due to protected sand dunes in the area, they were unable to recover all missing containers. Ryan expressed amazement at the bin’s long voyage and the unlikely odds of it resurfacing in England after six years at sea.
Ryan and his wife Sandra, also an underwater photographer, are familiar with tracking ocean-borne debris. Ryan recently won the 2024 British Wildlife Photography Award for his photo ‘Ocean Drifter’ showing a barnacle-encrusted football underwater near Portland. Together, they document the journey of marine litter, from fridge doors and trophies to discarded fishing gear.
While their primary focus remains on photographing marine life, encountering fishing gear and plastics washed ashore is a reminder of the environmental challenges confronting ocean ecosystems. Ryan stresses the importance of this work: protecting marine life from pollution and raising awareness about the impact of human-made waste.