Springing into action against plastic pollution

From 28th to 30th March our Plastic Free Communities across the UK held Million Mile Cleans at their favourite beaches, rivers, parks and streets to help protect the areas they love the most, and to mark the return of The Big Spring Clean!

Historically, these annual events have brought together ocean activists and water lovers in a nationwide show of solidarity for our campaigns to reduce single-use plastic and sewage pollution. Recent scientific research has suggested that beach cleans have a notable positive influence on reversing the damage caused by these issues.

For this year’s campaign some of our communities trialed a new Million Mile Clean data collection, using an awesome new tally sheet that allowed them to record both the items, and the brands, found at their cleans.

By recording and sharing this data after each clean, our communities are helping us expand the data we collect. That in turn helps us have a better understanding of what we’re finding in our natural spaces. This citizen science data can be used to call out the worst offending brands, and also challenge governments on plastic pollution. So that they finally implement the desperately needed Deposit Return Scheme, and Extended Producer Responsibility.

Plastic Free Falmouth and SAS HQ joined forces on the Sunday to run a beach clean from the Moor to Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth, Cornwall. They were joined by local volunteers, holidaymakers, youngsters, the vice mayor and a local MP. Two regional reps came out to help run the clean as well.

Emma, from Plastic Free Falmouth said:
“We were very excited to run a Spring Million Mile Clean in Falmouth, and use our people power to help highlight the scale of the problem, and push for change. This time of year, we find lots of plastic coming in during spring storms and swells, but it makes you feel better seeing everyone come out to help, including our MP.”

Volunteers came across the usual offenders of cigarette butts, plastic bottles, ghost fishing gear, dog poo bags, and food packaging. They also found little white bottles that have been notoriously washing ashore over the last few months, probably connected to a container spill out at sea. The biggest find was 10kg piece of rope, which seems to have been in the ocean a long time.

Elsewhere across the UK cleans were happening in blue and green spaces. Saltburn in North Yorkshire had 22 volunteers turn out to collect 12 full sacks of rubbish at the launch of their new Plastic Free Community. Neighbouring lead Edith in Guisborough, who is building up a network of communities locally, supported the event. They are campaigning together to have more impact across the Redcar and Cleveland area. Watch what they got up to in the video below.

Watch the video

An amazing 106 Million Mile Cleans took place across the whole weekend in a show of solidarity and a unified weekend of action. But our communities are out all year round making a difference locally. You can get involved and support in lots of ways. We’d love to have you join the movement.

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Find out more about the Million Mile Clean