1,000 tyres to be removed from Plymouth Sound
The project has secured funding after winning the Plymouth Climate Challenge
A new project will see 1,000 tyres removed from Plymouth Sound.
The 1,000 Tyres Project - from local maritime non-profit organisation The SHIPS Project - was announced as the overall winner of The Plymouth Climate Challenge.
They first came up with the idea after carrying out sonar surveys in the area, which is when they found lots of tyres in the water.
It is hoped that by removing the discarded tyres and other dumped rubbish, it will help stop the dispersion of pollutants into Plymouth's marine environment.
Once collected, they will find ways to recycle all the items responsibly.
They will also spend time recording the different types of seabed and seagrass beds.
Mallory Haas - a Maritime Archaeologist working on the project - said if it works in Plymouth they can launch the project nationally:
"Not only can we see what is there that shouldn't be there - like garbage and junk - we can look at seagrass because the sonar is so high-res and we can also see ship wrecks, which was the original reason why we were out there looking."
A total of seven shortlisted community projects had competed over the past month to be shortlisted to the final event.
The shortlisted projects that took part in The Plymouth Climate Challenge received a £250 starting pledge, the three finalists received £2,500 and the winner received the additional prize of £5,000, all funded through the Cities of Service ‘Engaged Cities Award’ won by Plymouth Council last year.
To find out more about the project, visit The SHIP Project's website here.