Serial number links Baldwin County trash bin found in England to Fort Morgan

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A Baldwin County trash bin from Fort Morgan, Alabama, has made an extraordinary transatlantic journey, turning up thousands of miles away on Weymouth Beach in England—a discovery that has left officials and residents amazed at the power of nature’s currents.

Baldwin County trash can survives 4,000-mile journey across Atlantic Ocean to England

An Improbable Journey

Underwater photographer Ryan Stalker made the unusual discovery while conducting research on Weymouth Beach. The bin, still bearing its Baldwin County Waste Management serial number, is believed by local officials to have been lost during Hurricane Sally in 2020, when the powerful storm buried countless containers in the sand and scattered them across the coast with its devastating surge.

Somehow, this particular bin—originating from Fort Morgan—survived the journey across the Atlantic Ocean, a testament to the far-reaching impact of major storms and ocean currents.

Narrowing Down the Source

After Stalker photographed the bin’s serial number and contacted Baldwin County Waste Management, officials launched an investigation to track down its original owner. The search revealed clues but fell just short of a perfect match—the last digit of the serial number had been worn away after years in the ocean.

Despite this missing digit, the serial number provided enough information for Baldwin County officials to narrow the possibilities down to three cans, all from Fort Morgan. While the exact original owner has not yet been identified, the discovery has renewed hope that a resident from the Fort Morgan area who lost a bin during Hurricane Sally might have an answer.

A Renowned Researcher

Stalker’s discovery is far from his first notable finding. The underwater photographer is known for searching for goose barnacles—tiny organisms that cling to objects that wash ashore—which serve as nature’s proof of long oceanic journeys. His work has earned global recognition, with one of his photographs capturing a barnacle-covered soccer ball that won the British Wildlife Photography Award last year.

What Comes Next

The Fort Morgan trash bin now sits in Stalker’s front yard as he searches for an appropriate way to recycle it. The discovery has drawn attention to the far-reaching consequences of severe weather events and the unexpected ways coastal debris can travel vast distances across the ocean.