South Londoner Matt George is appealing for volunteers to take part in the Big Plastic Count between today (May 16) and Friday.
Members of the Greenpeace South West London group and the campaigning organisation Everyday Plastic are taking part in what will be the UK’s biggest ever investigation of household plastic waste, and what really happens to our recycling.
“We need to take much faster action to clean up the plastic pollution, which spoils our local parks, and harms our climate, nature and health,” says Matt, a member of the Greenpeace group.
“This year, the government is starting to decide on legal targets to reduce plastic waste and we want them to set a target to reduce single-use plastic by 50% by 2025 and ban dumping our waste onto other countries.
“Greenpeace volunteers have been taking action on plastic pollution for years. We have taken part in litter picks in Kennington Park and along Ravensbourne River and campaigned against pointless plastic outside of Sainsbury’s branches in Clapham and Balham.
“As part of the campaign against pointless plastic, one of the local Greenpeace volunteers even collected together the plastic packaging that came with his food shop over the course of two months in order to demonstrate the packaging’s needless nature.
“I regularly go out picking up the litter that accumulates in the local streets and parks. A large percentage of the litter that I pick up is plastic – plastic food containers, plastic drinks bottles and plastic bags.”
Plastic waste is much bigger than a few individuals, Matt says.
The UK produces more plastic waste per person than almost any other country in the world, only the USA is worse.
Plastic production is actually increasing – it’s set to double by 2040.
“By taking part in The Big Plastic Count, we can all help to gather the proof we need to push the government to get it right and set a target to reduce single-use plastic by 50% by 2025,” says Matt.
Schools, community groups, businesses and local residents can sign up at thebigplasticcount.com/join-in
