Litter from the land is ending up in Eden’s rivers. Carelessly discarded, it is then blown by the wind, washed down street drains, or washed off the land in times of flood. Rivers act as a highway for litter, carrying it downstream and flowing into the world’s oceans.
The main culprits they found were all made of plastic: food wrappers and takeaway containers; un-identifiable plastic bits and bags; plastic bottles and dog poo bags, followed by tin cans and glass bottles.
Over the last three years, during seven short litter picking sessions, school children in the Eden Valley picked up a total of 7,917 pieces of litter from their local river-side green-spaces. That’s a shocking amount of litter that will eventually end up in the water, harming wildlife and polluting our rivers.
During 2020, It was widely reported that single-use disposable masks and other forms of coronavirus-related PPE (such as gloves) have already become an enormous global litter problem and one that is not going away any time soon.
We can all help stop Eden’s rivers from becoming a dumping ground for litter and make them safer and healthier places for people and wildlife.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Why not pick litter while walking the dog, or on your way to school?
Keep Britain Tidy has some great advice for litter picking safely when picking someone else’s litter.
Look out for their annual Great British Spring Clean - it's a great opportunity to get out by the river and help make it a healthier place for people and wildlife.
Do your bit to keep our parks, green spaces and rivers clean and safe for everyone and the river.
Take your own litter home and put it in your own bin – some items can probably be recycled then too, win, win!
If you really can’t keep hold of it and take it home, then always use a bin – not the gutter, river, pavement, park or bushes! If the bin is full, find another one – or take it home.
Most crisp and sweet wrappings are metallised and cannot be recycled. Try cutting back on snacks with these types of wrappings and choose ones with less, or easily recyclable packaging.
You could also try making your own snacks instead! Even a small reduction by one person can add up to a big difference.
We've joined forces with our friends at Ragtag Arts for a fun activity that can be done at home. We're calling on kids everywhere to Act for Eden and make a stop-motion film about the river, the wildlife that lives there ... and the perils they face from humans!
Step-by-step videos and templates can be found at Act for Eden - make a scrap-motion movie
If you choose to wear a face covering, try to make it a reusable, washable one where possible. They all contain plastics, so don’t rot down and animals have already been found entangled in disposable ones. They cannot be recycled, so need disposing of in a waste bin.
If you’re feeling creative you can make your own – turn it into a wet-weather indoor activity!
The action that you’re taking as part of Act for Eden will not just make a difference in your local river and community, it will help transform the world!
This promise has been carefully chosen to meet one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are a set of 17 goals set out by the United Nations to focus efforts around the world in order to “achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.” (UN SDG website) Although major actions are needed by governments, cities and local authorities, it starts with each and every one of us. By keeping your promise to Act for Eden, you are already living and working more sustainably - which is great news for our planet.
You‘ll also be part of a growing community of like-minded people who together, are leading by example and generating a force for change, able to push those in authority to make the transformations required.
All this just by being a legendary litter picker, mindful of leaving nothing behind at the river except footprints and memories!
