Tackle Plastic Pollution

Be a beach cleaner

You can be a beach cleaner every time you visit the beach. Even if it is just picking up three pieces of plastic when you are out for a walk, it all adds up and makes a difference. There are also lots of organised beach cleans that you can get involved in.

Take part

  • Skills required

    There are no specialist skills required for beach cleaning.

  • Project Type

    You can do a beach clean whenever and where ever you are, join and organised event or arrange your own.

  • The Why

    Plastic pollution is one of the most widespread problems affecting the oceans.

  • Key achievements

    Every piece of plastic removed is a piece that will no longer be harming the oceans.

Beach Litter Surveying

You can add extra value to your beach cleans by recording what you find. The Great British Beach Clean run by the Marine Conservation Society has an easy to use methodology which allows the data to be used by scientists and campaign groups to make a real difference. The data collected by beach cleaners like you has already led to the 5p charge on plastic bags as well as bans on plastic drinking straws and cotton buds.

You can take part in the annual snapshot event held every September, join and organised beach clean, or record your own litter observations. Being able to access hard to reach beaches means that the rubbish, and data, that paddle boarders can collect is especially valuable.

Take part

  • Skills required

    The Marine Conservation Society run training on how to complete their beach litter survey methodology.

  • Project Type

    You can join and organised survey, start your own group or undertake your own survey.

  • The Why

    Understanding the extent of plastic pollution has enabled policy changes to limit single use plastics.

  • Key achievements

    MCS beach clean data has contributed to the 5p plastic bag charge and ban on plastic straws and cotton buds.

Plastic never leaves the ocean, it breaks down into smaller pieces which are ingested by marine life and eaten by humans