The Solent Forum
Working in partnership for the future
The Green Blue and the Final Straw Foundation joined forces at the Southampton International Boat Show, 2021 to launch a Single-Use Plastic Free Accreditation. Aimed at inland and marine clubs, training centres and boating businesses, the new standard will highlight the responsible and innovative products and practices by organisations in the recreational boating industry.
There are three levels of certification for organisations to rise through: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level is determined by the organisation’s dedication to eliminating single-use plastic items from their activities. Suggestions can include, the removal of plastic cutlery, sustainable toilet rolls and eco-friendly cleaning products.
Depending on which level a club, training centre or business achieves, they will then be able to promote their certification with the accreditation’s logo, which they can add to their business credentials. A list of all the participating companies achieving a certification will also be added to both environmental ambassador websites, making it easier for recreational boaters to make informed decisions when planning their next shopping trip.
Anglers Against Litter is the Angling Trust’s campaign to provide a voice for anglers to engage with the issue of litter and plastic pollution in freshwater and marine environments. It outlines ways in which anglers, fisheries and tackle retailers can get involved to reduce and remove litter from areas where they fish.
New measures for the Isle of Wight over the peak summer holiday season were put in place by the Isle of Wight Council. Extra staff were recruited to keep parks, public open spaces and beaches clean and safe, while promoting local amenities and businesses and supporting a safer community and cleaner environment. Acting as eyes and ears on the ground, their duties included reporting littering, fly tipping, graffiti, dog fouling and anti-social behaviour, so that they can be tackled swiftly.
The campaign has been made possible thanks to support from the government's 'Welcome Back Fund'. Around £9,000 was used to 'top-up' services provided by town and parish councils to ensure litter bins are emptied at least three times a day at Shanklin, Sandown and Ryde. Bins covered under the Highways PFI in Newport, Ryde, Cowes, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor will also be emptied more frequently. A further £6,600 will be used to introduce more daily beach cleans, with Ryde West, Lake, East Cowes, Springvale, Seaview and Freshwater being added to the list. One of the most significant measures costing around £42,900 is the recruitment of nine public realm assistants who work alongside and support town and parish councils, businesses and communities. Working as part of the council's environment officer team, their duties will include:
As part of the Isle of Wight Council’s ongoing anti-littering campaign with Keep Britain Tidy, a number of eye-catching pink boards to discourage littering have been placed around the Island. Download a copy of the poster.
Litter Free Dorset aims to reduce the social, economic, and environmental impacts of litter as well as improve and maintain bathing water quality in Dorset. They focus on reducing litter and pollution getting to our countryside and coast in the first place, using behaviour change theory to inform work. They have lots of campaign materials, a learning zone and a resource hub.
Clear Access Clear Waters is a campaign for fair, shared and sustainable open access on water for all. It’s aim is not only to seek greater public access to water for recreation, but also to secure the protection of our natural environment. To help you they have created a free Paddle Cleanup Toolkit for their campaign supporters to download. There’s loads of advice and handy hints and tips in there to get you started. The toolkit also includes a Paddle Cleanup poster to help you promote your event. They have also added a sample press release and media advisory so you can tell others about the good work you have done.
OneLess has launched a practical guide for anyone around the world who is interested in tackling ocean plastic pollution at source and changing the way their community drinks water.
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