Surfers Against Sewage launch Europe's biggest beach clean in Cornwall
The million mile clean will continue until the end of 2022
Surfers Against Sewage have launched Europe's biggest beach clean in the South West for the second year running.
The Million Mile Clean is organised by the environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage as part of its campaign against plastic pollution.
Jack Middleton, Community and Events Manager at SAS, said: “The inaugural year of the Million Mile Clean inspired community action across the country.
"After seeing 142,428 people last year, we want to go bigger. 150 thousand is that next real milestone for us, behind this one aim is not only achievable but puts it behind Europe's biggest beach clean campaign that Europe's ever seen.
"The aim for 2022 is to build on this growth and continue the movement for the environment and against the scourge of plastic pollution".
The campaign launched on Wednesday 9th February and they hope to have 500 registered cleans after one week (Wednesday 16th).
In its first year, the Million Mile Clean saw 398,179.kg of plastic and packaging pollution cleared across the UK.
In the South West alone, nearly 79 thousand kilograms of packaging pollution was cleaned across the environment.
It took the title of Europe's biggest beach clean campaign, with registered groups spanning across over one million miles of the country.
Jack continued: "It was far and away the most successful beach clean campaign we've ever done. We wanted to come back bigger and better and put that bookmark in the calendar even earlier this year".
This years clean will also reflect on the benefits of being by a clean ocean and environment has on individuals, focusing this year on mental health and how to improve it.
Amy Slack, Head of Campaigns and Policy at SAS, says: “Cleans are a fantastic way of getting out and about in your local environment and making a difference in your community.
"While we aren’t able to pick our way out of the plastic pollution problem, volunteers across the West can help the fight against plastic pollution by taking part in a clean and gathering evidence to help us hold government and industry to account".
The Million Mile Clean is tied into the UN Decade for Ocean Science and will run every year until 2030, the year the Government aim to reach net-zero.
The scheme will see a million volunteers clean 10 million miles of UK environment over the space of the project and they say it'll collect vital data to hold businesses and governments to account.
SAS is looking for people across the South West to kick-start this year’s campaign, hoping to gain 500 registered cleans in the first week.
You can get involved and register your clean here and track beach cleans via SAS’ Strava Club community group.