Believe it or not, your actions to collect litter from the surrounding areas will greatly benefit future conservation campaigns and environmental awareness activities. From the data collected in a study done on 100m of land within range of the shoreline by others like you, the Marine Conservation Society will collate the information which will allow them to adjust their campaigns for maximum efficacy. Using this very type of information in the past, the Marine Conservation Society established the “5p bag charge and the results were amazing. There was a 55% reduction in the amount of plastic bags found on the beach.
As this year’s Great British Beach Clean Week fast approaches — Friday 17th – Sunday 26th September — there is much work to do. During this nationally observed week of cleaning, thousands of participants will head down to the beaches and begin collecting litter from across the UK.
In last year’s beach clean, as many as 425 pieces of litter were found for every 100m of the beach. That is barely over 100 steps so it is easy to see how much litter is covering that small area. Litter pollution is a major problem in the world today. Here in the UK litter pollution is threatening wildlife, the natural environment, and the health and beauty of the entire globe.
For this reason, the Marine Conservation Society has begun annual beach cleaning weeks, where volunteers can arrive to clean up stretches of beach and track their collection. This data is used to plan campaigns that will further reduce the presence of litter across our beautiful island and soon the rest of the world as well.
As you can see, for anyone concerned about the world we will be leaving to future generations, there are so many good reasons to join this campaign. If you haven’t already signed up to join this beach cleaning event, then here are a few more good arguments for why you should sign up for our September event today. Another way you can benefit future generations is by sharing your stories and experiences with them through programs such as speakers for schools.
1. Making a Change
By pitching in with active litter collection you will have an important benefit in many litter collection campaigns to come. The data you collect on the 100m of land around the coastlines of the beach will be sent to the Marine Conservation Society. They will collate this data along with all the data they collect during this national campaign and use this to plan more campaigns.
2. Group Activities – Fun for all!
Not only will you be having a major benefit on the environment and the world we will leave to future generations, but you will find this fun and great exercise as well. Litter collection is not a boring task at all, if you are not soothed and relaxed by the lulling sound of the sea and great outdoors, then grab some headphones and rock out to your favorite tunes while you perform this humble yet glorious task. Alternatively, grab your family and friends to join together and have some fun while you collect the trash. Before you know it, the place will look better and you will have made some wonderful memories. For those under 16, be sure to have those consent forms on hand.
3. Helping Marine Life
At last year’s beach cleaning, 30% of the litter found on beaches was PPE and face masks. These have been used in great quantities in recent years and this has made a serious problem for aquatic life. By assisting in this noble task, you will be ridding the water of plastic waste and preventing further poisoning of the oceans from human negligence.
