People take on challenge in Norfolk to tackle plastic pollution
This month is Plastic Free July, here are some people doing their part to help the environment...
People across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire are taking part in a global challenge to tackle plastic pollution this month.
Plastic Free July encourages us all to avoid single-use plastic to help make a big difference for our planet.
It was started in Western Australia back in 2011, and is now one of the most influential environmental campaigns in the world. Millions of people across the globe take part every year, with many committing to reducing plastic pollution far beyond the month of July.
In the UK it is estimated that five million tonnes of plastic is used every year, nearly half of which is packaging.
Plastic waste often does not decompose and can last centuries in landfill, or else end up as litter in the natural environment, which in turn can pollute soils, rivers and oceans, and harm the creatures that inhabit them.
The UK Government under Prime Minister Theresa May had a strategic ambition to“…work towards all plastic packaging placed on the market being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.”
This followed on from and was intended to support a 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment.
This included:
- An ambition of zero avoidable waste by 2050
- A target of eliminating avoidable plastic waste by end of 2042.
There are many people across our area who are doing their part in tackling the problem.
Alan Payne started the Welle Tidy Group in Upwell and Outwell during lockdown.
He and his wife walk nearly every day with litter pickers and bin bags collecting rubbish. Along with other members, they set out to clear rubbish across the area.
Alan told us about the amount of rubbish he sees just from people throwing things out of their cars: “Eventually you’ll end up with the verges of motorways which will be literally just piles of cans and drinks and McDonald’s packets. Some of it will never break down”.
Alan also told us about what he usually picks up in just one walk.
“Loads of masks. I’ll pick up 5 or 6 of those, 5 or 6 drinks cans, 5 or 6 water bottles, McDonald’s packaging and loads of receipts.”
“People just throw bags and bags of stuff.”
“If everyone spent just 10 minutes picking up litter in the towns, it would all be gone.”
Emma Sturman has also been working to tackle plastic pollution.
Emma started Norfolk Beach Cleans at the beginning of the year, to help protect the ocean.
Emma also organises beach cleans in the area for those who want to join.
She tells us about what she regularly picks up: “There is a lots of food packaging, sweet wrappers, crisp packets, A lot of convenient type of products… if marine life consumes the plastic, their stomachs can’t digest it and they ultimately end up starving to death because their stomachs are clogged with plastic”
“We need the ocean to survive… every second breath is from oxygen produced by the ocean, so when the ocean dies… we die. Ultimately, we need it to survive.”
For more information about Plastic Free July, and tips to cut down on single use plastic, visit here.