The UK’s ‘biggest plastic investigation’ gets underway

Chris Packham Big Plastic Count GP1SWZU5 Low res with credit lineThe Big Plastic Count is taking place from May 16 – 22, aiming to “help uncover the truth about what happens to our plastic waste and force the government to fix it”.

 

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Chris Packham Big Plastic Count GP1SWZU5 Low res with credit line
Chris Packham joins the Big Plastic Count project

Individuals and businesses have signed up to collect “the evidence needed to push the government, supermarkets and companies to tackle the plastic crisis”.

Over 14,000 are reportedly planning to take part in the joint initiative between Everyday Plastic and Greenpeace UK, including naturalist Chris Packham and actor Bonnie Wright.

The data each participant generates will contribute to an overall national picture, filling what’s described as “a crucial evidence gap” on exactly how much plastic packaging waste is leaving UK homes.

Organisers say the results will demonstrate the scale of the plastic waste problem and pressure the government and supermarkets to tackle the root cause of the plastic crisis. 

The UK produces more plastic waste per person than almost any other country in the world - second only to the USA, says Greenpeace Southampton. In 2018, the UK generated 5.2 million tonnes, enough to fill Wembley Stadium six times over.

This year, the government is starting to decide on legal targets to reduce plastic waste. Greenpeace Southampton is calling for a target to reduce single-use plastic by 50% by 2025, to introduce a deposit return scheme for plastic re-use and recycling, and for a ban on the dumping of our waste onto other countries. 

There’s more information from The Big Plastic Count

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