Preventing Plastic Pollution

The Preventing Plastic Pollution project aimed to understand and reduce the impacts of plastic pollution in the marine environment.

Litter hotspots along the Waveney were identified, and we are now working with these communities to find ways to reduce plastic pollution.

How does Plastic get into rivers?

• Blown from bins and poorly managed landfill
• Flushed down toilets
• Washed down drains
• Thrown down in our streets
• Washed from synthetic clothing

What harm does plastic pollution cause?

80% of plastic in the ocean arrived via rivers, once there it causes harm to wildlife through entanglement and being mistaken for food. Big bits of plastic break down into smaller bits of plastic - micro plastic. Fish, birds, mammals, invertebrates eat the micro plastics.

The impacts of fish eating micro plastics are not yet fully known, but we do know it clogs up their digestive system, causing internal inflammation and laceration, leading to poor health where plastic pollution is high.  Once these plastics enter the food chain they will also end up in the food we eat too.

By 2050 there could be more plastics than fish in the sea!

Help us tackle this problem locally

We have wonderful volunteer groups that are already tackling litter and many other issues on the Waveney, if you would like to get involved visit the volunteering page to find your closest group.