Get started with litter picking
Plastic in the ocean is an issue that is thankfully being spoken about more and more, recent documentaries by people like David Attenborough has really highlighted this problem and people are starting to see the real effects that plastic has on the ocean and its inhabitants..
It is estimated that one million birds and 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles die annually because of eating plastic or getting trapped in it.
Plastic in the ocean is an issue that is thankfully being spoken about more and more, recent documentaries by people like David Attenborough has really highlighted this problem and people are starting to see the real effects that plastic has on the ocean and its inhabitants. It is estimated that one million birds and 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles die annually because of eating plastic or getting trapped in it.
It is not just our marine life that suffers one piece of discarded litter on the street might look like a very small insignificant thing to you, however every day the RSPCA receive numerous calls of animals trapped, hurt, or killed due to litter. Always make sure to dispose of litter correctly, recycle, cut up any drink rings and tie rubbish bags to stop any litter falling out.
Unfortunately, not everyone will dispose of litter correctly. During lockdown due to more local walks, I have discovered more and more litter and managed to do even more litter picks. This has only highlighted how much needs to be done. I would pick one spot in a woodland path and fine layer upon layer of litter in the ivy, but every little action helps. You could counteract the litterbugs by becoming a litter picker. Start small by collecting litter on a walk. Whenever you see something on the floor, put it in the bin, picking up litter not only saves wildlife and stops any more plastic entering our ocean but it makes it better space for humans as well.
Top tips to follow when litter picking
Here are 5 top tips I recommend you follow when going out on a litter pick
Be safe
Always wear gloves, it is extremely important to stay safe when picking up litter as you never know what someone has discarded. Never pick up anything like needles, human waste, or items you are unsure of. Where you can, it’s always best to use a litter picker when planning to go out, this means you don’t have to pick anything up with your hands, it’s also much easier I would recommend using one.
Report
Report any items that are unsafe like the above, you may come across hazardous waste or anything that you find dangerous. You should also report any fly-tipping or commercial waste found.
Talk to your council
Councils often have different initiatives in place for people wanting to help, for example, Greenwich council has an environmental champion project, if you become a champion they will issue you with a pack that includes litter picker, gloves, bin bags and high vis. It is worth checking if your council has anything similar.
If you are planning to do a big litter pick or a group of you are going out, it’s a good idea to check what you can do with your bags of rubbish and if they will collect from a council bin.
Recycle
Always try to use the right bags when litter picking, now is the perfect opportunity to be able to recycle these items. Always make sure you tie up your bags to stop your hard work happening again.
Spread awareness
Lastly, you have done a good deed and we need to spread awareness of the issue to get more people involved. Always see if there are any local groups that do regular litter picks.
Here is an example of one of our recent litter picks