Plastic Free North Devon is a local environmental charity started by volunteers who want to reduce the impact of plastic pollution on the environment in North Devon and beyond. Our mission is to protect and improve our environment through community-led action to combat plastic pollution.
Our mission is to protect and improve our environment through community-led action to combat plastic pollution.
We aim to achieve this by helping people to recognise the relevance and value of the environment to their lives; to see and experience first-hand the impact of plastic pollution on nature; and to support good choices in purchasing, use and disposal of plastics, as we move to a more sustainable community.
By working with local communities, businesses, organisations and government we aim to:
- Raise awareness of our environment and how it is affected by plastic.
- Reduce the consumption of single-use plastics in North Devon.
- Clear waste plastic from our coasts, waterways, countryside and urban areas.
- Recycle and dispose of used plastics in an appropriate way.
https://www.plasticfreenorthdevon.org/
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plasticfreenorthdevon/ (5.7k)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/plasticfreend (496)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plasticfreenorthdevon/ (3.9k)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCplKnFrODb2BEYGkutfp0aQ
Protect our Playground
Our ‘Protect our Playground’ initiative aims to reduce plastic pollution on our beaches by reducing demand for plastic beach toys and the initial stage is all about reducing the increasing amount of cheap polystyrene boards we find on our beaches during the height of summer.
Why pick on cheap, flimsy polystyrene body-boards we hear you cry?
Your average cheap polystyrene body-board is manufactured in China, shipped over 5000 miles, distributed to stores and surfed for 10 minutes before breaking and going to landfill. About 99% of all plastic comes from fossil fuels, these are then refined and manufactured into plastic, transported, used by consumers and disposed of into some form of waste management system or the natural environment. In 2019 over 500 boards were collected from Croyde by the Keep Britain Tidy (KBT) #waveofwaste project and in 2020 we are already up to 216 boards in just 26 days… Yes, it that’s shocking and the impact is massive and long lasting. Every stage of this process releases toxic chemicals into the environment that wildlife and humans ingest and inhale.
How are we doing it?
Set up a pilot wooden belly board hire scheme in conjunction with Saunton Surf Hire. Twenty wooden belly boards are now available for hire with all profits supporting two local charities; Surf Mobility and Plastic Free North Devon.
We are keen to work with more surf hire shops in the future with the aim to expand the project in 2021 and set a standard for industry best practice in the future. Please get in touch if you would like to set up something similar.
Selling our ‘Protect our Playground’ wooden belly boards to promote the message, provide a sustainable alternative and generate income to help expand the project. You can shop for them here exclusively through our website. If you are interested in stocking some of our boards in your store to help spread the ‘Protect our Playground’ message and raise funds for us at the same time, please get in touch.
https://www.plasticfreenorthdevon.org/protect-our-playground
