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Summer Challenge Week 6 – Plastic!
Monday, August 2, 2021 - Sunday, August 8, 2021
We have reached the last of our 6 Summer Challenges! How did you get on reducing your car journeys last week? this week we are looking at plastic pollution. 88% of the ocean surface is polluted with plastic, but even more surprisingly this only accounts for 1% of ocean plastic waste! 700 species are at risk of extinction due to ocean plastic pollution. What can we do about this? This week we challenge you to pick an area of beach or parkland close to you, and do a litter pick. It might surprise you what you find. Send us a photo of what you find, and remember the following top tips:
Top tips for picking litter:
✅Be prepared: Carry gardening gloves with you (or a litter picker if you have one!) when you’re heading out on a walk in case you spot any litter – they’ll protect your hands from anything mucky or sharp.
✅If you don’t think you’ll come across a bin, bring a bag so you can carry any litter away with you.
✅Stay safe by staying away from needles and not picking up anything with human waste (like nappies), electrical items, or holding any potentially dangerous chemicals.
✅If you’re not sure what it is, don’t pick it up. Take extra care when picking up anything sharp.
✅Report any of the above items, anything you think might be dangerous, or any dumped electrical items or paint to the local council or landowner.
✅If you come across a fly-tipping site, or a dead animal, report it.
✅Sort your haul: Instead of chucking it in a regular bin, you could go one further and separate what you’ve collected to be recycled!
✅If possible, safety-proof anything you find that could be a danger to wildlife if it ends up in the wrong place further down the line, for example, cutting up 6-pack rings or plastic bottle cap rings.
✅Wash your hands: Always make sure you wash your hands properly after picking litter!
