Following a recent talk by Surfers Against Sewage, Upton Girls WI have completed a litter pick in Ryde as part of their support for the promotion of clean rivers and seas in 2024.
The local WI group invited Chani Courtney, a volunteer representative from Surfers against Sewage, to speak to their evening group where they learnt more about the Million Mile Clean – Surfers Against Sewage’s biggest and most ambitious community campaign to remove rubbish from local beaches and adjacent areas.
Having heard about the good work taking place, a small group of Upton Girls decided to participate in a litter pick along the Western Esplanade in Ryde on Monday.
They were provided with sturdy bags and gloves, and some brought along litter pickers. As it was low tide, they set off along the beach, and on their return, they also covered areas around the bus station, the skate park and Eastern Gardens.
At the end of the litter pick, the ladies were encouraged to weigh their findings, separate recyclable from non-recyclable rubbish, and also note the amount and type of branded items, such as drinks cans, and packaging. They also collected a lot of plastic bottles and cups, string and cord, fishing debris, goggles, food packaging, and even small items of clothing such as socks and even a sun hat!
Results are submitted online and contribute to plastic pollution research which challenges big brands to find the scale of the problem and find which companies are the big polluters.
Upton Girls enjoyed helping to make the environment a cleaner place for all and look forward to another litter pick in the future.
