The Journal of Surfers Against Sewage
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PIPELINE
The Journal of Surfers Against Sewage
Issue 105 | Spring 2018
Credits/contents 3
Chief Executive
Hugo Tagholm hugo@sas.org.uk
Head of Fundraising
Pete Lewis pete@sas.org.uk
P ipeline
Head of Community & Engagement
Environment
Dom Ferris dom@sas.org.uk
Finance Manager
Rosanna Harris rosanna@sas.org.uk Plastic Free Coastlines
Deputy Head of Fundraising &
Communications
Jess North jess@sas.org.uk
WAVES
Beach Bums
Community Coordinator
Jack Middleton jack@sas.org.uk
Science & Policy Manager Community
David Smith david@sas.org.uk Big Spring Beach Clean
Campaign Officer
James Harvey james@sas.org.uk
Education & Design Officer
Ellie Ewart ellie@sas.org.uk
Fundraising Officer
Jacey Russell jacey@sas.org.uk
Surfers Against Sewage is a national
Community & Events
Fundraising Officer
Katie Eddy katie@sas.org.uk
marine conservation and campaigning
Retail Coordinator charity that inspires, unites and empowers
Spring 2018
Amy Fitzgerald amy@sas.org.uk
Marketing & Communications Officer
communities to take action to protect
Sally Fish sally@sas.org.uk
oceans, beaches, waves and wildlife.
Trusts & Grants Officer
Louise Allen louise@sas.org.uk
Plastic Free Coastlines Support Officer
Rachel Yates rachel@sas.org.uk
Finance Assistant
Nancy Mappley nancy@sas.org.uk
Photographers Chief Executive’s Foreword 4
Tim Boydell
Cherie Bridges
Upstream solutions
Andy Hughes
Ian Lean
Greg Martin Plastic Free Coastlines 8
Abbi Hughes
Steve Banks Growing our communities going plastic-free
James Chapman
Callum Morse, Saltshots Photography
Plastic Free Parliament 14
Design:
A-Side Challenge your MP to support our campaign
Printed by:
St Austell Printing Company Meet the team 24
Pipeline is printed on 100% recycled Get to know our 16 staff members
and FSC certified paper, using
vegetable inks for minimum impact
to the environment. Please recycle
after reading! Interview 34
We chat to Richard Walker, MD of Iceland
Registered Charity in England & Wales
no. 1145877
Trustees: Beach Bums Update 38
Ben Hewitt – Chairman
Peter Crane – Treasurer
Find out the results of our scientific study
Dr Heather Koldewey
Lauren Davies
Alex Wade Deposit Return Scheme 50
Jon Khoo
Chris Hides Let’s keep up the pressure
Lesley Kazan Pinfield
4 Chief E xecutive’s Foreword Chief E xecutive’s Foreword 5
Plastic
When a community achieves Plastic legislation and industry accountability to
Free status with SAS, it means they have take full responsibility for their plastic
not only committed to eliminate specific waste is essential to providing more
items of avoidable, single-use plastic, but sustainable systems and products.
put the decision-making engine in place The extension of the plastic bag
Free
to incrementally decouple their town from levy, the microbead ban and a UK-wide
throwaway plastics. deposit refund scheme are proven ways to
After all, the majority of the plastic reduce society’s plastic footprint that is
pollution our beach clean volunteers find trampling our natural world. But these are
is avoidable, single-use plastic: straws, just the start.
stirrers, plastic bottles, plastic bags, The time for action is now and it’s up to
Future
disposable lighters, plastic cotton bud us all not to kick the proverbial plastic bottle
sticks, condiment sachets and more. down the street. We can all join a beach clean
These all have an upstream solution to or lead a Plastic Free Community.
prevent their presence on our beaches. Government must legislate to force
Together with our community leaders, industry to reconsider its plastic footprint
we are building solutions to stop plastic and penalise the overuse of throwaway
pollution at source. Empowering and plastics. Industry must use plastic-free
connecting communities to do this is policies as a market advantage. We must
essential to changing behaviours across reinvent our relationship with single-use
PIPELINE 105
businesses, local authorities, schools and plastic to eliminate, replace and recycle
Spring 2018
Welcome to the first 2018 issue of committed to removing and recycling as other stakeholders to reduce society’s over plastics faster and more effectively.
Pipeline magazine. The last year has much plastic as we can from our beaches reliance on avoidable plastics. Plastic production is already rampant
seen an explosion in public, political, we need to redouble our upstream efforts, The potential reach and impact and is also set to increase massively in the
industry and media awareness of the in the war on avoidable plastics. Our army of the initial pilot of the Plastic Free next 25 years. We need new legislation and
plastic pollution crisis. of 40,000 beach clean volunteers is being Communities programme is massive, systems to stop plastic at source now.
Our oceans have brought the problem augmented on a new front; our villages, including 6,240 businesses, 4,160 We can’t simply pick our way out of the
to millions of people in the UK via Blue towns and cities through our Plastic Free community groups and 1,248 community problem; it’s gone far beyond being simply
Planet II, and the January storms that Communities campaign. events all going plastic-free. The a littering issue.
battered the UK demonstrated the Plastic Free Communities is an combined population represented is over Thanks for all your support,
huge scale of the issue. Our beaches international initiative designed to unite 19 million individuals, meaning the scope
were inundated with vast deposits of and empower individuals, businesses, local to create long-term and meaningful
throwaway plastics, creating a toxic government and community groups to change far exceeds anything we have set
tideline of plastic products that society reducing their collective plastic footprint. It out to do before. Imagine if 19 million
uses for just a few seconds yet persist in is the only holistic, step-by-step framework people start to refuse throwaway plastic!
our marine environment for hundreds, if currently available to galvanise community The initiative has captured global
not thousands of years. action to reduce local over-reliance and use imagination and we have some exciting
Plastic pollution has spread into every of avoidable single-use plastics, with the international plans afoot already. It has
corner of our world, not just the UK, a aim of stopping plastic pollution. even been recognised by Environment Hugo – Chief Executive
parasite hitching a lift on the essentials of The campaign has been hugely Secretary Michael Gove for its efforts to
life; our air and water. successful since its launch last summer reduce its plastic footprint!
We must continue to tackle this at the as part of our Plastic Free Coastlines Our politicians and business leaders
frontline, where land and sea converge, programme, with hundreds of communities must also take bold and decisive steps
but we know that we can’t simply pick already working towards ‘Plastic Free’ to break industry and societal addiction
our way out of the problem. Whilst we are status, both nationally and internationally. to single-use plastics. Government
The SAS Big Spring Beach Clean at Perranporth Beach, Cornwall Image: Tim Boydell
8 Plastic Free Communities Plastic Free Communities 9
Plastic Free
Empowering individuals,
businesses, local government
and community groups to reduce
their collective plastic footprint.
Communities
PIPELINE 105
Spring 2018
10 Plastic Free Communities Plastic Free Communities 11
Plastic Free Communities is our national
initiative designed to unite and empower
individuals, businesses, local government
and community groups to reduce their
Between eight
collective plastic footprint. It is the only
holistic, step-by-step framework currently
communities
available to galvanise community action to with Plastic
reduce society’s over-reliance on avoidable Free Status
single-use plastics, with the aim of
stopping plastic pollution.
Our initial aim was to establish 125
Plastic Free Communities by 2020. It’s there are now
only eight months since we launched 85 plastic-free
the campaign and we already have approved
208 communities working towards businesses
the award. We are delighted to see
Penzance, Alderney, Tynemouth,
Aberporth, Perranporth, New Quay,
Croyde & Georgeham, and Braunton all
56
having been awarded Plastic Free Status! plastic-free
community
PIPELINE 105
Congratulations to the Community
Spring 2018
Leaders and their voluntary teams for groups
making this happen.
These eight locations have made
some incredible changes to their way of Croyde and Georgeham recently received Plastic
thinking and continue to encourage others 47 Free status. Image: Claire Moodie.
to join in their mission. Between these plastic-free
eight communities with Plastic Free Status events have
(with a combined population of 54,084),
been run
there are now 85 plastic-free approved
businesses, 56 plastic-free community
groups, and 47 plastic-free events have
been run.
If all 208 communities currently
working towards Plastic Free status
were to succeed (based on an average It is campaigns like this, and environmental
community population of 91,000), there We have already seen the first organisations like Surfers Against Sewage
would be a minimum of 6,240 businesses, community, first island, first Welsh
4,160 community groups and 1,248 community and most recently, first inland and its awarding of Plastic Free Coastline
community events all going plastic-free. community reach Plastic Free status. There status, that spread an idealism and
commitment to halt and reverse the trends
These figures represent the is an opportunity for everywhere, big or
overwhelming reach of the Plastic Free small, inland or coastal, fully recognised
Communities project and the ability it has town or even just an area of town, to apply and forces harming our planet.
to positively reduce reliance on single-use the Plastic Free Communities toolkit and
plastics across the country. contribute to the movement. — Environment Secretary Michael Gove
12 Plastic Free Communities Plastic Free Communities 13
Plastic Free Communities have The efforts of the communities to rid
begun to receive significant recognition themselves of unnecessary single-use
as leading the way in the work against plastics are recognition of the upstream
single-use plastics. Environment thinking to tackle plastic pollution. As a
Secretary Michael Gove has even society, we must work beyond the beach
acknowledged how important this clean and address our reliance on this
nationwide campaign is:“It is man-made menace.
campaigns like this, and environmental
organisations like Surfers Against Plastic Free Schools and Plastic
Sewage and its awarding of Plastic Free Free Parliament
Coastline status, that spread an idealism We have already begun rolling out our
and commitment to halt and reverse the Plastic Free Schools and Plastic Free
trends and forces harming our planet. Parliament initiatives with great success.
They show us that where there’s a will We currently have 170 Plastic Free Schools
there’s a way to improve the environment working through an adapted version of
for the next generation.” Plastic Free Communities. Plastic Free
Regular coverage in national and Parliament has engaged over 8,000
local media outlets has created a buzz members of the public to write to their MP,
around Plastic Free Communities and we challenging Parliament to reduce their Congratulations to Plastic Free New Quay in Wales.
are welcoming new community leaders reliance on single-use plastics. So far 165
Steps to Becoming a Plastic Free Community
PIPELINE 105
every day. If you are keen to lead your MPs have given their backing to Plastic
Spring 2018
local community or contribute to the Free Parliament. You can read more about
excellent work already taking place, head these projects later in this issue of Pipeline. We have set out five objectives to Objective 3 (Community Engagement):
over to the SAS website: www.sas.org.uk/ become a Plastic Free Community. These Schools, universities, community spaces
plastic-free-communities objectives bring together the entire and community organisations aware and
local population in a collective approach supporting the Plastic Free Community.
Plastic Free Communities Around the World to Plastic Free status, which instills This could be through doing talks or
Plastic Free Communities are emerging confidence and ensures longevity. inviting them to participate in other SAS
globally, with the locations not only in the projects such as Plastic Free Schools.
UK but also Ireland and Portugal. We are Objective 1 (Local Governance):
also in exciting talks to create Plastic Free Local council to pass a motion pledging Objective 4 (Events):
Galapagos and ensure the birthplace of support to plastic-free initiatives in Holding two plastic free community events
modern natural history is protected from the area and lead by example through per year that are open for all to attend.
the ever-growing threat from plastics. removing single-use plastics from their This could be a beach clean or running a
Following significant media attention own council premises. stall at a third-party event, for example.
on plastics, the public is reaching out for
new ideas to protect their environments, Objective 2 (Local Businesses): Objective 5 (Local Steering Group):
and by engaging councils and businesses, Getting local businesses on board (the This group should be set up to ensure that
this is a truly collaborative approach. amount of businesses to get on board is once PFC status is completed, the momentum
The Plastic Free Community Toolkit dependent on the population of the area continues in the area. A councillor must be
has been created to be adaptable in any outlined in the Community Toolkit). Each named on the chair and sit on a steering
location and population. We have set out business needs to remove at least three group meeting at least once a year.
to provide the tools communities need to single-use plastic items or swap them for
begin their Plastic Free journey and the non-plastic, eco-friendly alternatives.
support to ensure they reach it.
Plastic
14 Plastic Free Parliament Plastic Free Parliament 15
Free
ParliamenT
PIPELINE 105
Spring 2018
A call to Parliament to get
their house in order.
As part of the wider Plastic Free Coastlines
project, we are calling on Parliament to get
their house in order. Pledging to eliminate
unnecessary single-use plastics as part of
the Government’s 25-year Environment
Plan is a welcome ideal – however,
Parliament should look a little closer to
home first if they are going to lead the way
in the war on plastics.
16 Plastic Free Parliament Plastic Free Parliament 17
In a bold statement from the Government,
they set out working towards a target of
The recent series of Blue eliminating avoidable plastic waste by the
end of 2042. We believe that action should
Planet II has brought to be taken sooner to prevent the plastic
public attention the serious pollution crisis becoming irrevocable.
Plastic production is already rampant and
damage plastic is causing to is also set to increase massively in the next
our marine life and habitats. 25 years. Up to 13 billion tonnes of plastic
enter our oceans every year; the time to put
Pressure is rightly growing a stop to this is now, not in 2042.
on all of us to take action to The Environment Plan sets a backstop
to the state of the environment; it is a
reduce our plastic footprint. plan that is enviable to other sectors.
It is time for Parliament to Environmentalists should be grateful for
not only get its own house
the attention the Government is giving
to the state of our planet, but this plan is
in order, but take a lead on not the complete answer. We need new
ambitious action to end its
legislation and systems to stop plastic at
source now, as impactful and thorough
use of throwaway plastic.
PIPELINE 105
policies can create change overnight. The
well discussed Deposit Return Scheme
— Kerry McCarthy MP (DRS) is a clear demonstration of how one
source of litter can be all but eliminated. 1,138,630
If the UK Government is going to SingLe-use coffee
lead the way on this change and ensure
cups were used
avoidable plastics are eliminated, they Pollution on the banks of the River Thames.
need to act fast and ensure they show a Image: Steve Banks in parliament
hard stance on their own consumption of in 2017
single-use plastics.
Here at Surfers Against Sewage, we Challenge Your MP to Support Plastic
carried out an investigation into the Free Parliament
amount of single-use plastics used in We have created an easy-to-use platform Since the launch of the campaign, over
Parliament. Shockingly, over 2 million to challenge your MP to support Plastic 165 MPs have directly supported Plastic
avoidable single-use plastic items were Free Parliament which also helps us with Free Parliament, with many others making
purchased across the estate in 2017 alone. our bigger objective of achieving Plastic plastic-free commitments through other
If Parliament is really going to fight Free Coastlines. The website allows you means. We need to ensure that as many
plastics, dramatic change is needed to to connect with your MP via email, letter MPs as possible are supporting Plastic
lead by example. or Twitter, and challenge them to support Free Parliament to create the necessary
this campaign. changes. If you haven’t contacted your MP
Directly contacting your MP can yet, do so today by visiting
create real change. It makes your concerns www.plasticfreeparliament.co.uk
their issue, and sharing your experience
and knowledge with them often makes
them take note.
18 Plastic Free Parliament
Next Steps
We have identified the Commons
Commission as being responsible for the There are many steps we
administration and services of the House
of Commons, including the maintenance
can take as consumers to
of the Palace of Westminster and the reduce the amount of single-
rest of the Parliamentary Estate. Chaired
by the Speaker, we have challenged the
use disposable plastics we
Commission to revise the use of single- use. Members of Parliament,
use plastics and address the issues
preventing a Plastic Free Parliament.
as community and national
The Administration Select Committee leaders, have our own role to
considers the services provided for
Members, their staff and visitors by the
play in raising awareness and
House of Commons Service and makes setting an example on this
recommendations to the House of Commons
Commission, the Speaker and Officials.
important matter. That is why
SAS will be meeting with the Head of I am pleased to be working Our 30ft warship highlights plastic pollution
Catering and the Environment Team in with Surfers Against Sewage outside the Houses of Parliament.
and others to bring forward
the Commons in early March to discuss
the steps Parliament can take to end Single-use avoidable items purchased by Parliament in 2017
Spring 2018
their reliance on single-use plastics. The the Plastic Free Parliament
Product Number of Items
campaign and reduce the
outcomes of this meeting are expected
to inform an Administration Committee
report with the aim of reducing single-use amount of plastic that gets Plastic Cutlery 398,000
used and thrown away on the Plastic Straws and Stirrers 21,500
plastic usage across the Parliamentary
Estate. As always, make sure you stay
tuned in to SAS media for updates. Parliamentary estate.” Single Serve Condiments 386,070
We will continue to involve MPs on Soft Drink Bottles 200,584
Plastic Pollution and ensure the necessary — Steve Double MP
Coffee Cups (incl. Lids) 1,138,630
steps are taken to best protect our
environment. Plastic Free Parliament has
already engaged MPs to join our Protect We are targeting the reduction of Globally, five to 13 million tonnes of plastic
Our Waves All Party Parliamentary Group five single-use plastic items across end up in the oceans every year. Collectively
(APPG) and has led to meetings to discuss Parliament. These items have been we need to put a stop to this now.
what can be done to address plastics on a identified following our detailed Surfers Against Sewage has created
wider scale. investigation. They are easily avoidable, several Plastic Free projects to bring
We are currently discussing the prospect and reduction or even eradication of these together communities, schools and now
of creating Plastic Free Parliaments around items is achievable. Parliament to create Plastic Free Coastlines.
the world. The United Nations Environment By all doing our small part, we can create
Team have been impressed with the • Plastic Cutlery positive long-lasting change that will put an
effectiveness of the campaign and the • Plastic Straws and Stirrers end to unnecessary single-use plastics.
determination to have elected officials lead • Single Serve Condiments
by example, we are working with them to • Soft Drink Bottles
explore opportunities. • Coffee Cups (incl. Lids)Plastic Free
20 Plastic Free Schools Plastic Free Schools 21
Who better to drive positive change than #PowerToThePupils
young people? Our pupil-led education Every action is a victory in the fight
programme launched in late November against plastic pollution. It’s an issue that
2017 amid growing national awareness and has no easy fix and will take behavioural
concern for our unnecessary and excessive change from individuals, governments
single-use plastic consumption. The result and industry to stem the flow of single-
SCHOOLS
of which is being spewed out on coastlines use plastics. However we know that the
across the world. positive actions of students across the UK
Plastic Free Schools is a tool for positive can help inspire a wider concerted change.
change, with over 170 schools and over The 170 participating schools are already
55,000 pupils already signed up, we can and moving swiftly through the programme,
ARE making waves of change in schools setting up single-use plastic bottle amnesty
and communities across our island nation. days and conducting very serious school
litter audits, more commonly known as
TRASH MOBS! Want to get stuck in and run
your own Trash Mob? Head to page 32.
How to Become a Plastic Free School
Never underestimate To achieve Plastic Free Schools status,
these five objectives need to be completed:
the power of your voice.
PIPELINE 105
Spring 2018
Objective One: Join the Resistance
It is time to resist this plastic flood. Pupils
We are all, perfectly placed are asked to identify and create a team
to identify areas that need who will work together to take action on
single-use plastics in their school.
changing on a personal and
local level. These local actions Objective Two: On the Ground Action
Eliminating single-use plastic together.
are beginning to join together Students are asked to set up a single-use
to form a bigger picture of plastic boycott day, stemming the flow
of plastic pollution before tackling the
positive change. pieces that have already escaped by
organising a very serious TRASH MOB!
A trash mob is a high energy litter pick in
the school grounds.
Objective Three: Challenging Government
Never underestimate the power of your
voice. Using everything they have learnt
so far, pupils are guided through the
process of writing an impactful letter to
their local MP to ask for their support.
Opposite: Velmead School22 Plastic Free Schools Plastic Free Schools 23
Objective Four: Challenging Industry
Industry spends a lot of time and money
making their brand and products look
good. More often than not, it is the
branded products that we find littering
our playgrounds, streets, woodlands,
and beaches. In Objective Four, pupils
challenge industry to make positive
packaging changes, closing the loop on
the linear lifecycle of products.
Objective Five: You Are the Resistance St Agnes Primary School Ashley School
Creating a plastic-free legacy at schools
across the UK. Objective Five is simple,
we need to pledge to make these
commitments last.
Plastic Free Schools Campaign Victory:
Cool Milk Container Switch
Cool Milk is the UK’s leading school Marazion School
PIPELINE 105
milk supplier, working in partnership
Spring 2018
with local authorities and early years What is Next for Plastic Free Schools?
groups. Cool Milk helps to supply free and Now that our schools have collected their
subsidised school milk to children in pre- own evidence demonstrating a clear
schools, nurseries and primary schools. need for change, the time has come to
In short, they are a massive company and share their actions with government and
pupils in our programme have triggered a industry. Pupils will now be writing letters
positive change in how they supply their to their local MPs asking them to follow
milk to schools. suit and respond to the need for change.
Two of our participating Plastic Free The Plastic Free Schools programme
Marazion School
Schools have separately contacted Cool is playing a vital part in our overarching
Milk asking for a swap in the way their Plastic Free Coastlines and Plastic Free
milk is sent to their school, both times Cool Parliament campaigns. Joining the actions
Milk have responded positively swapping and voices of schools, supporters, beach
to either glass or larger containers of cleaners and everyone in between creates
milk that can be poured into beakers. a real force to be reckoned with.
This seemingly simple ask amplifies our If you would like to register your
#PowerToThePupils message. interest in the Plastic Free Schools
programme please get in touch!
If We Don’t Act, Then Who on Earth Will? We will be re-opening entries for the
We are all perfectly placed to identify 2018/19 academic year this June and look
areas that need changing on a personal forward to working with you. Email Ellie
and local level. These local actions are at education@sas.org.uk
beginning to join together to form a bigger
picture of positive change. #PowerToThePupils Knelston Primary School24 Meet the team Meet the team 25
MEET
8 11
4 12
1 3 6 9
2 7
5
10
THE 13
TEAM
16
15 14
PIPELINE 105
Spring 2018
17
16 of us work at SAS HQ
and here’s what we do…
1. Hugo 3. Pete 5. Ro 7. Katie 9. Ellie 11. James 13. Dom 15. Amy
Chief Executive Head of Fundraising Finance Manager Community & Events Education & Design Officer Campaign Officer Projects Manager Retail Coordinator
Often found in important Raises hundreds of Ro keeps all our finances Fundraising Officer Ellie loves nothing Recently joined us from Dom has grown our beach Manages all things SAS
meetings, on sleeper thousands of pounds for in check and makes the If you’re running a better than inspiring Forest Peoples Programme cleans and education shop. Owner of amazing
trains to London and at SAS’s work via trusts, whole organisation run marathon, baking a cake young people to make a to run our Plastic Free programme from a one-eyed, wonky-tailed,
his desk very early on grants and corporate smoothly. She’s also or shaking a bucket, Katie difference. She’s also very Communities project. We handful of participants to hairless cat.
Monday mornings with a support. Also moonlights handy, currently working is your girl! She is also a at home selling tea at should actually call him tens of thousands! Also
vat of coffee! as the office handy man. on a home renovation. prolific flapjack baker. festivals. Doctor Harvey. has strange fascination 16. Jacey
with a piece of sparkly Fundraising Officer
2. Rachel 4. Sally 6. Louise 8. Jack 10. Nancy 12. David pink fabric. Looks after our members
Plastic Free Coastlines Officer Marketing & Trusts & Grants Officer Community Coordinator Finance Assistant Science & Policy Officer and 250 Club and is the
Leader of Plastic Free Communications Officer Works with our smaller Jack manages our Regional Originally a long-serving Puts together the facts 14. Jess first point of contact for
Penzance, Regional Rep Always on the hunt for a trusts and grants and Reps programme, the office volunteer, Nancy and figures behind the Deputy Head of Fundraising & any inquiries. Secretly is
and now helper of all story, Sally writes across supports Pete. Louise also annual Beach Cleans and now helps out Ro. She projects. Over-‘seas’ Communication the actual boss.
things Plastic Free! all our platforms. Recently enjoys cycling the hilly big events. He’s also not also jumps out of planes, the water quality app. Oversees membership,
returned from travelling coastline of Cornwall in bad at swimming. for fun! Specialises in puns. all individual donations 17. Toby
Costa Rica and Nicaragua. search of coffee and cake. and communications. Office dog
Keeps the office plants Thiever of low lying foods.
alive, mostly.BIG
26 BSBC 2018 BSBC 2018 27
SPRING
BEACH
PIPELINE 105
CLEAN
2018
Tackling
‘Avoidable’ Plastics
from Source to
Sea at 500 British
Beaches and
Waterways. Image: Ian Lean28 BSBC 2018 BSBC 2018 29
TARGET INSPIRE REMOVE RECYCLE COORDINATE
Over 500 beaches 20,000 50,000 sacks 20,000 single- #AvoidablePlastics
and rivers people of plastic use drinks a mass citizen
nationwide to join in pollution bottles science action
Become a Beach Clean Leader Supporting Beach Clean Leaders
Leading a beach clean couldn’t be easier. Hundreds of Beach Clean Leaders have
We will provide you with everything already stepped up to the challenge. If
you need, free of charge. All you need you don’t fancy leading a clean, you can
to do is gather some friends, family and still get involved by heading down to your
colleagues and head to the beach. nearest event and mucking in.
If you would like to lead a beach clean Find your nearest event by visiting
at our Big Spring Beach Clean (7-15th April), www.sas.org.uk and selecting your region
PIPELINE 105
email Jack at beachcleans@sas.org.uk. from the ‘In Your Region’ tab.
Spring 2018
All Beach Clean Leaders will receive Thanks to our Big Spring Beach Clean
BSBC 2017 at Hayle Beach, Cornwall. Image: Ian Lean a limited edition stainless steel Klean partners the Environment Agency and
Kanteen Beaker. Klean Kanteen.
In the last decade, the Big Spring Tidelines to Treasury
Beach Clean has grown into one of the This year, the Big Spring Beach Clean
biggest gatherings of environmental will have more impact than ever before.
volunteers in the world. Together, we Our efforts and evidence will reach far
have visited over 1,200 beaches and beyond our shores, to the very heart of
removed millions of pieces of plastic government, acting as a catalyst for change.
from the marine environment.
With your help we are aiming to:
The ‘Attenborough Effect’ • Target – over 500 beaches and
This huge effort is reflected in the recent rivers nationwide,
explosion of awareness and action around • Inspire – 20,000 people to join in,
the issue of ocean plastic pollution that • Remove – 50,000 sacks of plastic pollution,
was so powerfully demonstrated by the • Recycle – 20,000 single-use drinks bottles,
BBC’s Blue Planet II. Nicknamed the • Coordinate – a mass citizen science action
‘Attenborough Effect’, this surging wave to support the Treasury’s consultation
of awareness can be traced back to ripples on plastics and taxes by flooding social
generated by those pioneering beach clean media with images using the hashtag
communities, many of whom are still #AvoidablePlastics as evidence.
active with us to this day.BIG SPRING
30 BSBC Appeal BSBC appeal 31
BEACH CLEAN
Appeal Can you help us
PIPELINE 105
Spring 2018
raise £6000?
The packs include: Please Help Make a Difference to Your
Coastline Today!
1. Gloves Donate Online
2. Bin bags • Head to www.sas.org.uk/donate
We are delighted that so many awesome Spring Beach Cleans all around the UK. 3. Hand sanitiser • Click ‘Join/Donate Today’
volunteers have stepped forward wanting These packs enable our volunteers to host 4. First Aid Kit • Then ‘Give a Single Donation’
to run a Big Spring Beach Clean this year! a beach clean without having to invest 5. Plastic bottle reusable recycling sack • Type £5 into the ‘Other’ box and away
However, we’ve been inundated with anything except their time, something 6. Beach Cleaner badge you go!
requests for Beach Clean packs so need to we are very proud of. Many other 7. SAS info on plastic pollution
raise funds to send out more! organisations charge their volunteers up 8. Our membership magazine Pipeline Donate Over the Phone
We need £6000 to buy more to £175 per beach clean pack, but we have Just call Jacey on 01872 553001
equipment, print more materials and generous funding from our corporate
post 130 more packs to help support the supporters which helps us keep costs to Every Beach Clean Makes a Difference Send Us a Cheque
upcoming beach cleans! Would you be a minimum. However, due to the huge Every beach clean inspires an average of 31 Payable to Surfers Against Sewage, Unit 2,
able to spare an extra £5 this month to amount of people wanting to make a volunteers and helps remove at least 27kg Wheal Kitty, St Agnes, TR5 0RD
help fund our Big Spring Beach Clean this difference to their coastline this Spring, of plastic pollution. That means that if
April? If 1 in every 6 members did, we we need extra funding! we meet our fundraising target of £6000, Make a Bank Transfer
would meet our target! The beach clean packs provide we’ll be able to inspire 4030 more people Account: Surfers Against Sewage
Every year we send out hundreds our beach cleaning communities with and remove 3510 kg of plastic pollution. Sort Code: 30-98-76
of Beach Clean packs at no cost to everything they need to pick up litter Plastic pollution that would otherwise Account No: 01446231
our volunteers. They’re packed by and dispose of it safely, as well as find get washed back out to sea, causing Just make a note of ‘BSBC Appeal’ on your
volunteers and sent from our St Agnes HQ out more about the problem and recycle untold problems to marine life including donation please! Thank you members! We
to our lead volunteers who are running Big plastic bottles effectively. entangling, choking and poisoning. really appreciate your support.NUMBER OF TRASH MOBSTERS: NUMBER OF BOTTLES COLLECTED: BUCKETS / BAGS FILLED: PHOTOGRAPHS SENT BACK TO SAS HQ? *REMEMBER - IF YOU CAN RECYCLE DO RECYCLE!
34 Interview Interview 35
year, we hope that we will have converted Q: What is the biggest challenge to
all of our 100 million black plastic trays to Iceland in going plastic-free?
Interview:
wooden board. We are also bringing in new A: Probably plastic milk bottles, which
ranges of veg and chips in paper based bags are currently made from HDPE plastic.
as opposed to plastic. And, we will be out of But even with that, we are working on a
Richard
single-use plastic bags within the next six variety of different solutions already.
months. We are switching all of our plastic
egg trays to wooden pulp trays in the next Q: How are your customers reacting to
few weeks too. the changes?
A: The consumer response has been
Walker
Q: Have you personally been inspired to absolutely overwhelming. My dad (who
make any changes to your daily life? founded Iceland nearly 50 years ago)
A: There is a lot everyone can do in originally said that he didn’t think that
their personal lives to reduce plastic our customers would be that fussed
or eliminate it. At home, we only use about removing plastic, but since our
glass bottles or tap water. And in the announcement, the phones have been
office, we have gifted everyone an ringing red-hot and we have had letters
Q: As a surfer, what kind of plastic aluminium drinking bottle with the aim from all over the country praising our
Managing Director at Iceland pollution have you personally seen on of eliminating all plastic from our Head move. You don’t need to be a Waitrose
your trips around the world? Office as quickly as we can. There are customer to care about the environment.
Q: Hi Richard, we were delighted to hear
PIPELINE 105
A: I’ve seen all sorts of plastic pollution now some really cool reusable coffee cups Iceland is for everyone, and everyone
Spring 2018
that Iceland has pledged to go ‘plastic-free’ around the world. Close to home, on the out there too – ones made from bamboo cares about reducing plastics nowadays.
– aiming to eliminate all single-use plastics North Cornish beaches, you can see the mid for example. Now I never use disposable
from your own brand in the next five years. tide deposits of ‘mermaids’ tears’ (known coffee cups, as they cannot be recycled. Q: Have you had any conversations with
What made you decide to make this step? as nurdles). These are the raw material for other big retailers about their moves?
A: I’ve been aware of the scourge of plastic production that somehow are getting Q: Have you come across any A: We are trying to engage the other
plastics for many years. I’ve noticed the into the marine environment and building impossibilities yet? retailers, because this is a time for
problem getting worse over the last couple up in the sand on our beaches. Perhaps A: The screen saver on my laptop is collaboration. However, so far their
of years and that’s played out by the fact the worst place I’ve been was Morocco ‘Nothing is impossible!’ announcements have been nowhere near
that there has been more plastic produced where both the beaches and the water were good enough. We recently wrote to all the
in the last 10 years than the previous 100 absolutely filthy with all types of different What has changed in technology to make this bosses of the big retailers, but only heard
years. The problem of plastic pollution is plastic pollution. more possible than it was five years ago? back from Tesco. I’m hopeful that we can
getting exponentially worse. Indeed – five years ago, this would not start to work together to solve this crisis.
Everyone, from consumers through to Q: What progress have you already made have been possible. However, through a
retailers, needs to stand up and recognise in going plastic-free at Iceland? combination of old school technology (such Q: What would you advise other
their responsibility - and the reality is A: We’ve been working on eliminating as cellulose-based films) and cutting edge businesses to do that are thinking about
that Iceland are a leading contributor plastics for over 12 months and thinking innovation (such as plant-based packaging) making changes?
to this plastic waste. As an example, we about it for perhaps 18 months. We’ve it is now possible to make plastic elimination A: I would advise any business to stop
produce 100 million black plastic trays already made quite a lot of progress. Last year a reality. What’s funny is that some thinking about it, and start doing! The
every year for our ready meals, which we banned plastic straws and called upon manufacturers have been quietly working on genie is out of the bottle and the consumer
cannot be recycled. It was time to stand the Government to bring in a Deposit Return solutions for the last 15 years, but there was desire to reduce plastic is overwhelming.
up and recognise our responsibility and do Scheme for plastic bottles. This month, we no consumer or retailer demand for them. It actually makes really good business
something about this issue. have our first new ranges of ready meals So a lot of the ideas are not ‘new’ but rather sense to listen to the customer and start
that are in wooden board trays as opposed to are now commercially scalable because we reducing plastic now.
those black plastic trays. By the end of this have created the demand.36 Greggs school beach clean box Greggs school beach clean box 37
OCEAN
Supplying Emergency
Beach Protection Kits to
schools and community
GUARDIANS,
groups battling ocean
plastic pollution.
ASSEMBLE! This January we sent out a call for coastal
communities to apply to receive one of
25 limited edition Beach Protection Kits.
It takes huge commitment and heart to
become Ocean Guardians and we were
blown away to receive over 50 incredible
entries from all corners of the country.
Image: Ian Lean
The Ocean Guardian Pledge
From Rye to Rum, each of our Ocean
Guardian Teams has pledged to protect
and promote their home beaches by
What is an Emergency Beach leading community beach cleans,
Protection Kit?
PIPELINE 105
education events, supporting our
Spring 2018
A Schools Beach Clean Box upstream solutions projects like Plastic
An even more radical version of our Free Communities and so much more.
community Beach Clean Boxes, including: Now they need your support! Take
citizen science test-tube kits, beach the Ocean Guardian pledge and get
clean backpacks, a Marine Litter Museum involved with your nearest team at
display box and more! We can’t wait to see beachcleans@sas.org.uk
what the successful teams can achieve
with their amazing new boxes! Ocean Guardian Future
We have big plans for the future and if your
A #MINIBEACHCLEAN Bin school or community group is interested in
Brand new, big and bold, these are far fundraising to create your own kits, then
more than just a bin! Stationed at the please do get in touch with us here at SAS
beach, they will provide the information, HQ on beachcleans@sas.org.uk
inspiration, guidance and equipment
for beach-goers to do their own Thanks to Greggs for their support in
#MINIBEACHCLEAN. creating the Ocean Plastic Emergency Kits.
Ocean Guardian Teams
A very cool part of the project; the winning
schools will join forces with their local
SAS Regional Rep to form special Ocean
Guardian Teams, signing up to protect their
local stretch of coastline together.
Image: Ian LeanBeach Bums
38 Beach Bums Beach Bums 39
The results of an SAS-
supported study are in.
Many of you will remember the Beach
Bums study, whether you took part or
read about it in Pipeline 96 when it was
launched. The study sought to gain
insight into the microbes that colonised
participants’ guts and compare samples
PIPELINE 105
from those who regularly spend time
Spring 2018
in seawater with those who don’t. The
intention was to build a clearer picture
of how antibiotic resistance in the
environment can affect people.
The Results Are In!
Regular surfers and bodyboarders are
three times more likely to have antibiotic
resistant E. coli in their guts than
non-surfers.
SAS and our supporters assisted in the
research conducted by the University of
Exeter to recruit surfers and non-surfers
for the Beach Bums study. Three hundred
people, half of whom regularly surf the
UK’s coastline, were recruited to take
rectal swabs.
Previous research had already
identified that surfers swallow 10 times
more sea water than sea swimmers. It was
important to find out if that made them
more vulnerable to bacteria that pollutes
seawater and whether those bacteria are
resistant to an antibiotic.40 Beach Bums Beach Bums 41
Scientists compared faecal samples
from surfers and non-surfers to assess
whether the surfers’ guts contained E. We urgently need to know
coli bacteria that were able to grow in
the presence of cefotaxime, a commonly
more about how humans are
used and clinically important antibiotic. exposed to these bacteria and
Cefotaxime has previously been
prescribed to kill off these bacteria, but
how they colonise our guts.
some have acquired genes that enable This research is the first of its
them to survive this treatment.
The Beach Bums study, published in
kind to identify an association
the Environment International journal, between surfing and gut
found that 13 of 143 (9%) surfers were
colonised by these resistant bacteria,
colonisation by antibiotic
compared to just four of 130 (3%) non- resistant bacteria.
surfers swabbed. That meant that the
bacteria would continue to grow even if — Dr Anne Leonard, University of Exeter Medical School
treated with cefotaxime.
Dr Anne Leonard of the University of Despite extensive operations to clean that infections such as pneumonia, to surfers and bodyboarders in the UK, it
Exeter Medical School led the research up coastal waters and beaches, bacteria tuberculosis, blood poisoning, gonorrhoea, should not prevent people from heading
PIPELINE 105
and said: “Antimicrobial resistance has which are potentially harmful to humans and food and waterborne diseases could to our coasts. Water quality in the UK has
Spring 2018
been globally recognised as one of the still enter the coastal environment be fatal. It would also mean that it would improved vastly in the past 30 years and is
greatest health challenges of our time, through sewage and waste pollution from no longer be possible to use antibiotics some of the cleanest in Europe.
and there is now an increasing focus on sources, including water run-off from to prevent infections in routine medical Recognising coastal waters as a
how resistance can be spread through our farm crops treated with manure. In the procedures, such as joint replacements pathway for antibiotic resistance can allow
natural environments. paper, the authors demonstrated the and chemotherapy. policy makers to make changes to protect
“We urgently need to know more about prevalence of cefotaxime-resistant E. The 2016 O’Neill report commissioned water users and the wider public from the
how humans are exposed to these bacteria coli in UK bathing waters as well as the by the UK government estimated that threat of antibiotic resistance. SAS always
and how they colonise our guts. This prevalence of the mobile resistance gene antimicrobial resistant infections could recommend water users check the Safer
research is the first of its kind to identify that make bacteria cefotaxime-resistant. kill one person every three seconds by the Seas Service before heading to the sea to
an association between surfing and gut They estimated that over 2.5 million water year 2050 if current trends continue. avoid any pollution incidents and ensure
colonisation by antibiotic resistant bacteria.” sports sessions occurred in England and Up to now, solutions on addressing the best possible experience in the UK’s
Researchers also found that regular Wales in 2015, which involved ingestion of the issue have largely focused on coastal waters.
surfers were four times as likely to E. coli bacteria harbouring these mobile prescribing and use. However, increasing Surfers Against Sewage will be
harbour bacteria that contain mobile resistance genes. They found that surfers priority is being placed on the role of the redeveloping the Safer Seas Service for the
genes that make bacteria resistant to the are particularly vulnerable to ingesting environment in spreading the problem in upcoming bathing season to bring it in line
antibiotic. This is significant because the the bacteria because they swallow up to 10 addition to transmission within hospitals, with new technology. The App will continue
genes can be passed between bacteria times more water than sea swimmers. between people and via food. to be free to download and the interactive
– potentially spreading the ability to map available via the SAS website:
resist antibiotic treatment between The Antibiotic Resistant Era Should we avoid the sea?! www.sas.org.uk/safer-seas-service
bacteria. Recently, the UN Environment The World Health Organization has No! Please continue to use the sea. As we all The Beach Bums study was led by
Assembly recognised the spread of warned that we may be entering an era in know, the sea has many benefits to health the University of Exeter and funded
antibiotic resistance in the environment which antibiotics are no longer effective and wellbeing as well as connecting us to by the Natural Environment Research
as one of the world’s greatest emerging to kill simple and previously treatable the natural environment. While the Beach Council and the European Regional
environmental concerns. bacterial infections. This would mean Bums study highlights an emerging threat Development Fund.42 SAS SHOP SAS SHOP 43
ECO LIVING
Helping you say goodbye to
single-use plastics!
BEST
SELLER!
< Coffee Cups
SAS SHOP
Our bamboo coffee cups are a great
alternative to single-use takeaway
cups, and are now available in a
range of seven awesome colours!
£12
All shop profits fund beach cleans,
campaigns and education initiatives Cotton Buds >
New!
PIPELINE 105
Spring 2018
The newest addition to the Eco Living
range, these cotton buds ditch the
disposable plastic sticks in favour of
eco-friendly, biodegradable bamboo
and soft cotton!
£2.50
SALE! < ILLUSTRATED TOTE
10% membership discount code: Designed by Alex T. Frazer, the ‘For
the Love of Waves’ bag is the perfect
saveourseas
size for shopping and is made of 100%
organic cotton! Now 50% off in our sale,
it’s the perfect time to bag your own!
£5
sas.org.uk/shop sas.org.uk/shop44 SAS SHOP SAS SHOP 45
GUPPY FRIEND BEESWAX WRAPS
A practical and effective way to reduce A practical and effective way to reduce
plastic pollution in our rivers and oceans plastic pollution in our rivers and oceans
New! Handmade in the Cotswolds by Carly
and Fran, Beeswax Wraps are our
new favourite way to ditch Clingfilm
and tinfoil – plus they make your
lunch look really cool! Made from
cotton and locally sourced beeswax,
the wraps are 100% natural, and the
ingredients give them antibacterial
and antifungal properties! Now
available in the SAS shop.
Pack of 3 – £20
PIPELINE 105
Spring 2018
BOUNCY CASTLE RANGE
Totes, washbags and purses
In a seaside workshop on the Isle of
Wight, Lou, Georgia and Steve make our
To date, microplastics The Guppyfriend Washing Washing Bag, so they don’t end Bouncy Castle tote bags, washbags and
have been found in around Bag is the first practical way up in our rivers and oceans. coin purses from materials that were
600 marine species, and to prevent the tiny microfibres Guppy Friend is made of the otherwise destined for landfill! Each
the decomposition of this from our clothing entering into highest quality polyamide, and item is unique and made from recycled
pollution takes up to 450 years. our rivers and oceans. The is designed to be fully recycled British bouncy castle. Since they began
Microfibres shed from clothing bag even helps your clothes to at the end of its lifecycle. Guppy making these fab accessories, the
during washing are a significant last longer, as its soft surface Friend Washing Bags are now team at Wyatt and Jack have recycled
source of marine debris, and results in fewer fibre losses! available in the SAS shop! around 14 tonnes of bouncy castle!
now we have something to help The fibres that do break off are
you reduce your impact. captured inside the Guppy Friend £25 Available in the SAS shop from £14.50
sas.org.uk/shop sas.org.uk/shop46 Fundraising Fundraising 47
Our Collection boxes are out and Thank you East Coast Visions, who Instead of Black Friday discounts, Big
have raised a fantastic £464.55 at organised a night of music and Balls Collective donated the price of
various locations across the UK, pizza with raffle, raising £578! Keep discounts to SAS – raising £471.
including: Saltrock in Falmouth and an eye out for their 2018 event!
Tenby, Chapel Porth Café, Lavender Dame Allan School and Somers
and Bone in New Brighton, The Park School held cake sales for
Summerhouse and The Peppercorn SAS and raised a fabulous £104.18
Café in Marazion, The Victoria Inn and £85 respectively!
and The Cabin in Perranuthnoe,
The Natural Store in Falmouth, The The cast and crew of Arabian Nights
Unicorn in Porthleven and Rustic at Dragon School, Oxford raised
Cakes in St Agnes. Thank you all! £242.58 following a performance!
Thank you to Lawrence of Ocean Thrive Physiotherapy, Guernsey
High who organised a charity Santa held a talk and asked for donations
Stand up Paddleboard beach clean on the night, raising £107!
and raised £60!
Asda, Penryn chose SAS as one of
Once again, Phil Brown undertook their Green Token charities, raising
another run for SAS and in 2017 it £200!
was the Bournemouth 10k, he
raised a fantastic £1110!
PIPELINE 105
Spring 2018
Fundraising
Thank you to the Smart Renewable
Heat LTD Truro Office who donated
£200 to SAS!
Regional Reps Adam and Jack
Heroes
entered the Exmoor Swim and
raised over £1000 complete with
marine litter outfits!
The SAS team enjoyed an evening
at the St Agnes Hotel for a pub quiz
and raised £205! Thank you Pozé, who dedicate 5%
2017 ended with a wonderful evening at of tee profits to SAS… so far they
Truro Methodist Church. Although the The Falmouth Campus Library, have donated £29!
final figure is still to come in, the current Falmouth University held a table
top sale in aid of SAS and on the SAS held an instore collection
total raised stands at around £2000!
day raised £140! at Asda, Hayle and generous
Thank you to everyone who supported customers helped us raise £100.55!
this concert – we certainly had a fantastic The Mithian School dads held
night watching Chris Bannister perform their annual quiz in aid of SAS Thank you Freeze Pro Shop, who
and donated £140 to help protect held a movie night in aid of SAS;
the music of John Denver with the their coastline! they donated £350!
Cornwall Symphony Chorus.48 Fundraising Fundraising 49
Regional Rep Alex recently The Nisa ‘Making a Difference
completed his year-long challenge Locally’ scheme donated £300 to Every year that passes we Regional Rep Sian is currently
develop new ideas to help
kayaking and stand-up paddle
boarding the main rivers in Suffolk,
help protect the UK’s coastline!
circumnavigating Wales on a
protect our oceans, waves
raising £322 and collecting 365 The University of Surrey Surf Club
and beaches and we rely on stand-up paddle board while
plastic bottles! donated a fantastic £190 from a
recent fundraiser they organised in incredible people like YOU to raising money for SAS!
aid of SAS! do incredible things. Right from
the word go, SAS are on hand
The expedition is a 1000km
Will at Retrojam donated £350 from
a recent ‘for the love of disco’ night! to support you as you fundraise journey, including inland
Thank you to Magic Rock Brewing
and prepare for the event. canals, rivers and along the
Whether you have limited
for organising an evening in aid of
time, a day or two to volunteer rugged coastline, tackling fast
SAS which included a raffle. They
raised £237.50! or finally want to tick that flowing water and negotiating
challenge off your bucket list,
Nalu Beads donate £2 for every every penny raised makes a
busy shipping channels.
SAS bead sold, their most recent
donation was £110!
difference to your coastline! Good luck, Sian!
The Summerhouse, Marazion Contact katie@sas.org.uk /
hosted an ‘Of Time and Tide’
01872 555947 to start your
gallery viewing, raising £300!
fundraising journey today!
Oli decided to enter an ultra-
marathon around the Gower coast
PIPELINE 105
Spring 2018
path and raised over £500 while
litter picking along the way!
Thank you to Roger who in September
2017 undertook the Ironman in Wales
in memory of Dartington. He raised a
fantastic £1571.
Thank you Mogwai, who had a
collection at their most recent
concert in Bristol; they raised £130!
Thank you to Wise Jumpers, who
donated a percentage of each jumper
sold, have kindly donated £60!
The Martin Luck Group recently
donated £1 from every tea and coffee
purchase, totalling £30! Thank you!
A recent Plastic Free Movie Night at
the Aberystwyth Bandstand raised
£175 for SAS!
Blackwater School recently
donated £34 from fundraising
activities they undertook. Image: James Chapman50 Deposit Return Scheme Deposit Return Scheme 51
Deposit
The key paragraph in the Government
response to the Environmental Audit
Committee is:
“The Voluntary and Economic
These potential incentives
Incentives working group is due to report would all work towards the
Return
to Ministers shortly with their findings
from the call for evidence and advice on
same overall outcomes of
a potential way forward. We will need to increasing recycling and
consider how a Deposit Return Scheme
or other behavioural incentives would fit
reducing litter.
with other planned work, such as wider
reform of the packaging waste producer
SCHEME
responsibility regime and the call for
evidence on the potential for taxes or
charges for single-use plastics, in order
We urge the Government to avoid producers or consumers being of between 10–20p is added to the purchase
charged multiple times for the same costs of drinks containers. Consumers are
not to backslide on progress products. These potential incentives then provided with highly accessible return
towards a UK-wide deposit would all work towards the same overall points to easily reclaim their deposit from
outcomes of increasing recycling and the container. It is a deposit, not a tax.
return scheme.
PIPELINE 105
reducing litter.” This system is highly effective at reducing
Spring 2018
It is now more vital than ever before to littering, increasing recycling rates,
keep pressure on our politicians to make improving the quality of recyclate, creating
In the UK we use a staggering 38.5 million that the ‘Government introduces a legislated sure England does not get left behind green jobs and a circular economy, and
single-use plastic bottles every day. Deposit Return Scheme for all PET plastic on tackling plastic bottle pollution and lowering carbon emissions.
Only half of these are recycled, so it’s drinks bottles.’ This was a fantastic step commits to a UK-wide DRS. This is a Typically, they can deliver recycling
no surprise that many of these end up forward for our campaign and towards a proven mechanism to trap plastic, glass rates of between 90-100%, preventing
on our beaches and in our oceans. Our UK-wide DRS. and metal in the economy rather than in plastic, glass bottles, and cans from
campaigners have been at the forefront We’ve already seen the Scottish the environment. This could be the start escaping into the environment. Deposit
of calling for a UK-wide Deposit Return Government commit to a DRS and our of further backsliding by the Government. Return Schemes also help change public
Scheme (DRS) on plastic bottles to stop team has recently been in Edinburgh We want to see the Government perceptions; reframing drinks containers
plastic pollution, including delivering consulting on the scope of the system follow Scotland’s lead and introduce a as a valuable resource. Removing bulky
a petition with over 325,000 signatures proposed for Scotland. However, sinister comprehensive Deposit Return Scheme for bottles and cans from bins can also result
supporting this call to the Prime Minister. industry forces are now at work in England. The time for action is now and we in reduced requirements to empty the
The petition has also featured England, lobbying government ministers urge the government to implement new bins and reduced litter spilling from
prominently in our evidence supporting in an attempt to water down and derail policies and legislation that the country is overflowing bins.
a UK-wide DRS presented to both Defra proposals for England. crying out for to finally go plastic-free. It also takes far less energy to recycle
and the Environmental Audit Committee. We were dismayed to hear that the or reuse a container than it does to extract,
In December the Environmental Audit recent response by the Government to the Campaign Recap: What is a Deposit refine and process virgin materials into
Committee responded to the evidence from Environmental Audit Committee will cause Return Scheme? containers. Recycling metal containers can
various cross-sectorial experts, including further delays to the implementation of a Deposit Return Schemes are a common be 95% more energy efficient than making
oral and written evidence submitted by UK-wide DRS. The Government indicated strategy to dramatically increase recycling a new can. And aluminium is infinitely
SAS, supporting legislation for a DRS on that a decision could be delayed until after and reduce littering by adding value to a recyclable. With these excellent energy
plastic bottles. We are delighted that their the Treasury consultation on a tax on material that is currently treated as an savings comes a dramatic reduction in
findings concluded with a recommendation single-use plastics, which has yet to start. unwanted waste product. A small deposit greenhouse gas emissions.You can also read
