People are being asked to leave beanbags and other polystyrene products at home when visiting Northland beaches this summer because of the potential environmental harm they can cause.

An incident in the Bay of Islands last summer saw thousands of polystyrene beads from a broken beanbag discharged into the coastal marine area at Army Bay, Moturua Island, prompting a lengthy and expensive clean up over several days.

Northland Regional Councillor Marty Robinson Told Tim Dower that one spilled bean bag last year took 20 staff hours to pick up and they still couldn't find all the balls.

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