Plastics: Solutions
Overall the effects of plastic pollution have an overwhelming impact on marine biodiversity. This is a GLOBAL ISSUE and comes at a time when marine ecosystems are already suffering from other anthropogenic impacts including overfishing and climate change.
As landfill taxes go up under EU law, the UK needs to find alternative ways to reuse plastics including increased recycling initiatives. In January 2010 the London Mayor, Boris Johnson, stated that by the 2012 Olympics he hopes that London will be a "plastic-bag free city".
Back to Plastics Campaign page.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO:
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
- Choose Tap Water over Bottled Water
- When you put plastic bottles in recycling banks ALWAYS REMOVE THE BOTTLE TOPS, as they are a different type of plastic. This also enables them to be crushed more easily so they occupy less space.
- Choose biodegradable canvas bags over plastic bags
- Reuse bags instead of taking new ones at checkout counters
- Write to your MP
- Encourage your local stores to sell or give away reusable shopping bags.
- Buy Loose Fruit and Vegetables over Packaged - Choose products with less plastic packaging
- Recycle On-the-go
- Report At-Sea Dumpings to the MCA
- Take part in MCS Adopt-a-Beach and Beachwatch surveys to help gather information needed to support measures such as a plastic bag tax or ban.
- Get involved
- Organise a Plastic Workshop
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Choose Tap Water over Bottled Water
Tap water is more rigorously tested and analysed than bottled water. Bottled water, unlike tap water, is not tested for faecal bacteria, pathogens or parasitic diseases such as cryptosporidiosis which can cause serious illness. Selecting tap water also reduces the amount of plastic you consume and thus helps the environment.
Watch Tapped, a documentary on the truths of the bottled water industry.
Read more about the shortcomings of bottled water on NRDC.
- The Drinking Fountain Association
Established in 1859, The Drinking Fountain Association brings safe, clean drinking water to people all over the world, and has paid for drinking fountains, for example, in schools across London. This not only provides a vital resource but also helps the environment by reducing the need for bottled water.
Read about the Pilot Drinking Fountain Launch Event in London
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Choose Biodegradable Canvas bags over Plastic bags
Keeping a canvas bag with you at all times means that you may never need a plastic bag again and you can even design your own bag by using fabric paints on canvas.
Countries such as China, Ireland, Australia and Bangladesh have banned or have placed restrictions/tax on single use plastic bags. The tax in Ireland has reduced plastic bag use by 90% in just six months.
As part of Global Ocean's Eco-Arts Plastic Workshop at the Thames Festival children had the opportunity to design their own environmentally friendly canvas bag!
Global Ocean teamed up with Whale Bags to raise awareness about the impacts of plastic on the marine environment and provide ways for people to make a difference to ocean health.
Everyone had great fun and learnt valuable lessons from their time with us:
"Today we learnt that lots of species are being killed because people are throwing plastic bags in the sea which suffocates animals." - Hannah and Rebecca (aged 10)
"I think it is really important to save our seas, so don't use plastic bags!" - Amber (aged 11)
Read more about our day at the Thames Festival on our Learning page.
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Write to your local MP requesting the introduction of a plastic bag tax or ban.
*Please note we cannot provide a template as this site will filter out identical letters. Letters tend to be far more effective if written individually anyhow. However, please do feel free to include some of the ideas that have been outlined below:
- While plastic has a hygienic, protective use, yet throwaway plastics are pointless, and are becoming invasive and harmful to our marine environments and human health.
- Plastic bags have an average usage of 30 minutes.
- Although plastic production has increased significantly over the last 40 years our recycling efforts have not developed proportionally.
- Small boroughs and town communities spark the initiative and set the precedent for London and the UK the follow.
- We need to spark conversations with local storeowners.
- We need to organize screenings of eco-documentary "Message in the Waves" to educate the town community about the harmful effects of plastic on the ocean.
- Boris Johnson has plans to make London plastic bag-free by 2012 for the Olympics. However, this is a huge goal in the time span of less than a year.
- We need to put pressure on Boris Johnson to follow through with his promises.
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Buy Loose Fruit and Vegetables over Packaged - Choose products with less plastic packaging
Reduce the amount of plastic you use by buying loose fruits and vegetables. Put it in your basket loose and when you check out, bag it in your re-usable canvas bag. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
A bad example...Too much plastic! Yes, please!
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Recycle On-the-goIf your local authorities have given you the chance, try to recycle when you're on the go, especially some of the 1.6 million newspapers handed out in London annually! Many neighbourhoods have bins with separate paper, plastic, glass and general waste compartments. Be aware of what you are binning is recyclable and which compartment you are throwing it into!
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Report At-Sea Dumpings to the MCA
Besides ensuring safer lives and safer ships at sea, The Martitime and Coastguard Agency also aims to have cleaner seas. The Green Blue is another environmental awareness programme aiming to promote sustainability by the shore, the sea, and in boats. If you see anyone littering, please report to the MCA or The Green Blue and they will take the necessary measures such as
Report marine debris or sewage spills at these marine debris tracker outlets:
- Marine Debris Tracker App
- Interactive Map developed by Surfers Against Sewage (sponsored by Global Ocean)
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See our PDF of ways to get involved here.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organise A Plastic Workshop
Global Ocean has developed a series of school workshops, packed with educational content, to highlight the impacts of plastic pollution on the marine environment. Through this work we aim to generate an attachment to nature and encourage children to take positive steps to making a real difference in ocean health.
This includes workshops with local schools located in the classroom as well as in museums, galleries and at festivals. Previous workshops have been located within the National Geographic Store, the Design Museum London and the Lord Mayor's Thames Festival.
