Preventing Plastic Pollution

Did you know that around 80% of the plastic that eventually ends up in our oceans gets there via rivers?

The River Waveney Trust have been litter picking along the River Waveney between Diss and Beccles for the past six months. We have been contributing data to the ‘Preventing Plastic Pollution’ project (PPP), taking place across England and France. There have been six data gathering picks in Diss, some on the river from kayaks and some on foot collecting from the riverbanks.

The section of the Waveney that runs behind the supermarkets in Diss is a real litter hotspot. We have collected and recorded data on over 100kg of waste from this location. However, this is only a small fraction of the litter that is gathered there by River Waveney Trust and Frenze Beck volunteers. Morrisons responded to our request to put a bin at the back of their car park and by the riverside footpath, which has helped to reduce litter in the river.

As well as picking up litter, it’s vital we use our platform to get the message out there about the devastating impact plastic pollution has on wildlife. Entrapment, entanglement, being mistaken for food and polluting the water with harmful chemicals, are key problems. Plastic slowly breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces –micro plastics, these are more easily consumed by fish and other animals, providing no nutrition, causing only damage to their internal organs, leading to poor health and premature death. Please dispose of your litter in a designated waste bin and think twice before leaving it on the ground.

Our next litter pick in Diss will be with pupils from Palgrave Primary School. We are keen to work with more school groups to explore the harms of plastic pollution and look at ways we can make our river and oceans healthier.

Thank you to all the volunteers that have supported this project! Litter picks and education about healthy rivers will continue beyond the end of the PPP project. If you want to get involved with any River Waveney Trust projects, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our website: www.riverwaveneytrust.org or email ange@riverwaveneytrust.org

Featuring live music, stalls and entertainment, this event at Diss Park on Saturday 2nd September at 2pm guarantees to please all ages!

Life Fest is a free music and arts festival hosted by Diss Baptist Church, celebrating the hope that we have in Jesus.

For more information contact Ben Mansfield 07968778666 or head over to the Diss Baptist Church Facebook page!