Polzeath Marine Conservation Group
Plastic Pollution
Here's what we can all do to prevent it from damaging our beaches, our marine life and even our own human health.
BEACH CLEANS
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Keep Britain Tidy BeachCare manage monthly beach cleans from our Marine Centre year round to remove plastic and other pollutants. We are pleased to support this, unfortunately necessary activity. Event dates are on the Home page or you can email us, visit our Facebook Page / Events, or pop into the Centre. These are free to attend events, no need to book in advance. Refreshments will be provided after your hard work.
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When weather permits, we also demonstrate the damaging effects of microplastics and the abundance of it on our beaches with our Trommel - a large tombola shaped sieve, to separate sand and microplastics. You can also try this out yourself using a kitchen sieve!
WATER REFILL STATION
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We maintain a water refill station at the top of the beach, enabling the public to refill their own water bottles, reducing the amount of unnecessary plastic waste bought here. There is another site locally at Rock. Both together managed to supply 20,000 litres of water in its first year alone! That is an incredible save in single use plastics.
Creating Awareness
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From running events and discussions, to our displays inside and out of the Marine Centre, we do our best to raise community awareness of plastic pollution.
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The number one thing we recommend: VOTE WITH YOUR WALLET!
repurposing
Our local residents and the taxpayer funded beach cleaners know that if there are any reusable items left behind on the beach - take them to The Marine Centre! We then offer any plastic beach toys or beach clothing for reuse. A donation is appreciated if you take them home. Good wetsuits are sold for fund raising purposes. Polystyrene surf boards are removed at the end of the season by Keep Britain Tidy BeachCare team - hopefully with a repurpose, but sadly, too often not possible.
Below are some images of the amazing work volunteers have done, and of the efforts that you could be involved in too.
To discover how to reduce your plastic consumption and waste, and learn what else you can do to help, visit the marine conservation page.