Futures Forum: Sidmouth Plastic Warriors > in action > Sat 10th March
However, it's 'more' than 'simply' getting rid of plastic pollution:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Plastic Warriors > raising awareness and pushing the ‘refuse, reuse, recycle, reduce’ mantra >>> next clean up > Saturday 10th March
Here's a report from Denise Bickley of the Sidmouth Plastic Warriors and Surfers Against Sewage:
Dear all
Saturday afternoon saw the beach, Ham and town alive with so many people picking up plastic, bottles, glass, bags, metal and all sorts of other weird stuff! We saw the Sidcombers out in number, and reckon there were also over 50 of our Sidmouth Plastic Warriors out too, starting at both Holmdale (Prayer Room) and the sailing club, with various collection points made by EDDC's fantastic gardener Noel on our behalf. Thanks to everyone who turned out (and to the weather for changing completely in the afternoon, with not a drop of rain!) There were also hundreds of people out walking and enjoying the sun so many conversations were had, and 'seeds' were planted!
Rubbish collected
I myself focused on the roadside along the promenade, and very disturbingly discovered the grills running along the centre of the beach are housing a huge amount of plastic, just waiting to decay and spread itself directly onto the beach and into the sea. I got out as much as I could reach (2.5 black bags) with my litter picker but this is an EDDC matter as the grills are bolted down and really does need properly addressing (not just once, but regularly, as presumably it will accumlate again as it is the point for all the debris in the roads in the town to run to when we have heavy rain). It also illustrates the problem of fast food containers and how they need to be biodegradable (cardboard?), not polystyrene!
Rubbish under Esplanade
Grills over drains hiding lots of plastic
We all were shocked also at the amount of
fishing debris we picked up. The Warriors found four birds such as the one
below, all with fishing wire wrapped around them. So not only is the plastic
causing harm as it breaks down, it also does untold damage to
wildlife.
Bird wrapped in plastic
We also found the usual
large amount of bagged dog poo, which is also a health hazard as well as
being disgusting. This seems to be getting worse, not better. If only we could
encourage dog owners to use degradable bags - they if they do throw them in
bushes it's not such a catastrophe! However obviously binning them is
prereferable. Do we have enough dog bins? Could we have them throughout the town
and beyond, at public footpath 'hotspots'?We know the benefit of doing regular beach cleans like this, but also ask that we keep up the pressure to push the 'refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle' to all residents, tourists and businesses in the town.
The next clearup organised by us is on April 14th, meeting at the Sailing Club at 10am, and this one is organised by me on behalf of Surfers Against Sewage (for which I am now an area rep).
Please continue to ask any local business owners and managers to contact me if they are interested in being part of our bid to become a Plastic Free Coastline town with SAS - we need a few nore businesses who have made 3 positive changes to get rid of single use plastic items they use/give out/sell etc (for example getting rid of plastic straws, or switching to glass bottles or cans for drinks, for the cafes - but it can be any businesses doing their bit).
Thank you for your support
Denise
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Denise Bickley
Sidmouth Plastic Warriors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/181478989253793/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SidPlasticWar
Petition: currently stands at 5264 http://chn.ge/2BJItXK
Website: http://sidmouthplasticwarriors.org/
Plastic Free Coastlines • Surfers Against Sewage
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