The problem of plastic pollution has been on the cards for some time now, but Rotary clubs around the world have taken the issue into their hands and are leading the way forward.
Plastic pollution is in the sea, within river beds, on the beach and anywhere else where it shouldn’t be.
According to Surfers Against Sewage, a plastic bottle can remain in the environment 450 years after it was placed there. As the bottle breaks down, it splits into microscopic plastics which never really vanish.
As an individual, you can create an impact by simply changing a few habits:
- Purchase a reusable bottle and stop using single-use containers. According to Greenpeace, the UK alone use over 35 million plastic bottles every day.
- Carry a reusable coffee cup, some cafes offer a discount if you supply the cup!
- Say no to plastic straws. Persuade your local businesses to convert to no straws or at least paper straws at request.
- Switch to e-bills.
- Choose your groceries carefully. Avoid plastic covered items, and opt for loose fruit and vegetables.
- Carry a shopping bag. Stop purchasing plastic bags – especially as they cost!
As a group, you could:
- Approach a school or business and introduce ‘Sending a Message in a Bottle’. Llanidoes Rotary and Philip have created resources which can be accessed through their website. These can be used in schools in a bid to get more volunteers involved. Lesson plans are included to follow the curriculum on a topical issue. Young people often engage in the issue as it impacts their future.
- Establish clear recycling practices within the workplace and at home. Find out about your local procedures and maintain it.
- Participate in a clean-up. One of the most rewarding methods. There are many Facebook pages for community groups. Regular cleans will make the biggest impact.
- Campaign for a change in manufacturing the goods.
Longniddry & District Rotary
A school in Scotland invited the local Rotary club to participate in their project to clean the local beaches.
Lots of interesting finds at the beach litter pick. We have a great community link with the Rotary and thank them so much for asking us to come along and help them. This also helps our campaign so much! @PlasticPollutes @KSBScotland @gerrymcmurtrie pic.twitter.com/DKTh4oKFOA
— Longniddry Primary (@longniddryps) March 25, 2019
Barrow-In-Furness Rotary
Volunteers in Cumbria & Lancashire collected bags full of rubbish as part of the Rotary GBI Mass River and Beach clean.
Barrow Rotary and local helpers beach clean at Askam this morning thank you to Peter Buckley Barrow Street Care for your help and equipment a dozen bags of plastic collected pic.twitter.com/ZPj6dMw7Z2
— Rotary Barrow-in-Furness (@BarrowRotary) June 8, 2019
Mounts Bay Rotary
The weather stayed positive for Rotary members across the south coast.
Cleethorpes Rotary
Cleethorpes Rotary gathered for a beach clean
Teams of schoolchildren, professionals, volunteers and members from our club armed themselves with bin bags litter picking sticks and joined forces with Cleethorpes Tesco in their mission to clean up Cleethorpes sands.
Within a few hours, 22 bags were filled.
Organisers wish to thank everybody for taking part and supporting the club on this occasion.
Saundersfoot Rotary
In Wales, Rotary volunteers took to the beach to clear plastics.
Furness Rotary
Furness Rotary met early to kickstart the RGBI beach clean day and set up the branded feather stands. Although the weather was atrocious, 15 members of the club joined with friends and dogs from the village.
During the clean, the team found a bright orange lifeboat – stranded high on the beach – and a wrecked glass fibre yacht, which were clearly both victims of the roaring ocean.
15 volunteers from the village community of Rampside braved the weather.
Barry Rotary
Barry Rotary were supported by the Friends of Barry Beaches and the local Brownies and Rainbows groups. At the end of the afternoon, everyone enjoyed an ice-cream and evaluated the findings.
The local Rotary club met with the youth groups from the area to clean the shores.
Rotary in Abingdon
Rotary in Abingdon organised a litter pick in Marina Park, located next to the River Thames. The team are striving to make the community a better place!
A member of the club extracting a plastic bottle from the river.
Across the world…
Rotary volunteers all over the world are keen to improve the environment.
Accra Spintex Rotary – Ghana
Early this morning, my club Rotary Club of Accra Spintex had our Beach Clean Up Project. A little action by all is what is needed to save the lives in water #SDGs #LifeBelowWater #InnovativeVolunteerism #UNDP #Rotary pic.twitter.com/Pm0acbkAM1
— Senu Sylvia (@sefsyl) April 13, 2019
SSHS Interact – Saipan – the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands
Interact beach clean up! Thank you #rotary President Greg for thr new banner! pic.twitter.com/sDTUNztfyX
— ⚙️SSHS Interact Club (@sshsinteractors) March 23, 2019
Rotaract clubs – Ghana
Last Weekend,Rotaract Clubs of Accra Ring Road Central and @RotaractOsuRE in collaboration with Rotaract Club of Zenith,India took part in the #trashchallenge
We call ours #PeachyClean✌🏽
We made some part of Labadi Beach 🏖 in Accra Ghana 🇬🇭 cleaner☺️
This is Rotary/Rotaract pic.twitter.com/YnioybQVcb
— Rotaract Club of Accra Ring Road Central (@RRCRotaract) March 25, 2019
Kyotango Rotary – Japan
Edmonds Rotary – Washington
Doing beach clean up with fellow Edmonds Rotarians. I love my hometown #Edmonds #Rotary #Beach pic.twitter.com/yKO9kjWFWC
— David Kaufer (@DavidKaufer) March 16, 2019
Tripoli – Maarad Rotary – Lebanon
Southampton Rotary – New York
Grand Cayman Rotary – Cayman Islands
Annapolis Evening Rotary – Maryland
Nice weather for today’s @AnnapEveRotary beach cleanup service project at Matapeake Beach. #rotary #kentislandbeachcleanup pic.twitter.com/ehxcO1uPXo
— Evette Lewis (@DC_MDBiz) June 15, 2019
Comox Valley Rotary – Canada
The June-July issue of the Rotary GBI Magazine focuses on the topical issue. Read more:
