Volunteers out collecting plastic along the river. A large quantity was out of reach and was collected at a later date.
Working in partnership with 18 organisations from across France and England, Preventing Plastic Pollution seeks to understand and reduce the impacts of plastic pollution in the marine environment. By looking at the catchment from source to sea, the project will identify and target hotspots for plastic, embed behaviour change in local communities and businesses, and implement effective solutions and alternatives.
The Preventing Plastic Pollution initiative has co-developed a standardised approach for surveying litter in rivers and streams. Their aim is to pilot this methodology across 7 catchment areas in England and France, including the River Gipping. They have asked us, as a voluntary group, to help gather detailed information on the types and amounts of plastic waste in the river catchment. The data will be assessed and sources of plastic pollution identified by both location and sector. This will be invaluable in helping to plan and deliver effective interventions to prevent plastic pollution from entering our rivers and seas.
