Plasticblitz 2023!
Sat 27th May - Sun 11th June
The Problem...
Many people associate plastic waste as being a problem primarily affecting our marine environments. In fact, 80% of this pollution passes through our rivers and streams on its way to the sea.
The issues plastic causes in these freshwater systems are equally as damaging. Firstly, plastic waste in our rivers threatens wildlife through entanglement and ingestion. Plastic waste can also act as a source of toxic chemicals, which can bioaccumulate in our wildlife. Large pieces of plastic will also then break down into smaller pieces, which are difficult to remove from the environment. Cumulatively, the issue of plastic waste is widespread, from being found in remote regions, the air we breathe, drinking water and food supplies, wildlife and even human blood.
Many of our rivers are now effectively acting as plastic 'taps', channeling plastic from inland areas to the sea. However, once plastic has entered our rivers, there is no statutory obligation for any organisation or public body to remove it.
Collective action is therefore needed to address this issue and turn off these plastic taps for good.
The Plasticblitz Concept
Numerous community groups are hard at work raising awareness of plastic pollution, cleaning up their local area and lobbying for change.
The Plasticblitz is an annual event that aims to engage as many community groups and Environment Agency teams as possible with taking part in a simultaneous litter pick and data collection activity around their local river between Sat 27th May and Sun 11th June 2023.
This event has three key aims:
1) To complete a catchment-wide clean-up of plastic pollution.
2) To collect data on the most common plastic items found, and the areas where plastic pollution is most problematic. This data can be used to educate groups, create publicity and lobby for change.
3) To join up multiple community groups, amplifying their voices and helping them share ideas.
This year we have support from Rotary in the Thames Valley through their international End Plastic Soup campaign , meaning the 2023 Plasticblitz should be bigger than ever! The Rotary End Plastic Soup campaign started in Amsterdam in 2016 and is now operated by Rotary Clubs in 42 countries world wide. Lean more about Rotary in the Thames Valley's involvement in the End Plastic Soup Campaign here .
Previous Plasticblitz Results
The first Plasticblitz in 2021 began as a trial event in the Maidenhead to Teddington catchment. A total of 166 people participated within 26 litter pick events to cover 28km of river bank. This resulted in the collection of 139 bin bags of waste and over 6,500 items of waste being categorised, according to the Preventing Plastic Pollution method.
In 2022, the Plasticblitz expanded to cover the Thames Basin, where over 460 individuals took part. These groups carried out 36 litter picks covering nearly 45km of river bank whilst collecting data on the type of waste encountered. In total, 437 bin bags were filled!
The Plasticblitz has grown from strength to strength since it started in 2021. This year, the Plasticblitz aims to be bigger and better than ever as it expands outside of the Thames Basin.
So find a river near you as the challenge is on for the 2023 Plasticblitz to exceed these numbers!
The Method...
All Plasticblitz litter picks should take place between Sat 27th May to Sun 11th June 2023. You must follow a set method to collect data for the Plasticblitz project. This method will depend on whether you are carrying out the litter pick from the bank or from a boat. There is a separate method for Environment Agency staff, who are collecting litter from locks and weirs.
Scroll down to find the right method for you...
Bank-based Blitz
Follow the following steps to complete a Plasticblitz survey from the river bank:
- Mark out an area of river bank of set length and width. You will carry out the Plasticblitz survey within this area. The area of river bank you choose to clear will depend on how much litter there is. Choose a smaller area if the bank is significantly littered.
- Record the length and width of the bank you decide to carry out the Plasticblitz survey over.
- Pick all the waste within your set area (plastic and other), counting and recording each item as you go on page three of the Survey123 form or printed data sheet (if the latter is chosen, the data will need to be uploaded to the Survey123 form on completion of the litter pick). It's sometimes helpful to do this as a pair, with one person picking and one person recording.
- Outside of this defined area, a general litter pick can take place. The aim here is to simply pick as many bags as possible. Try to bag plastic bottles and drinks cans separately so they can be sent for recycling.
- As you carry out this litter pick, record what the top three brands you encounter are.
- Leave filled bags by an easily accessible public bin for collection by you local council. For larger picks, it may be necessary to arrange for collection of the waste in advance with your local council.
- Top Tip: For larger groups, it might help to split into two teams. One team can focus on collecting the data in the Plasticblitz area, whilst the other team carries out a general litter pick across the rest of the bank.
Boat-based Blitz
Follow the following steps to complete a Plasticblitz survey from a canoe or kayak:
- Mark out a set length of river bank, over which you will carry out the Plasticblitz survey. The length of river bank you choose to clear will depend on how much litter there is. Choose a smaller length if the bank is significantly littered.
- Record the length of bank you choose to carry out the Plasticblitz survey over.
- Pick all the waste from this length of bank, collecting it into bin bags.
- Carry out a general litter pick to clear the wider bank outside of this area. Collect as many bags of waste as possible (remembering to keep these bags separate from those collected on the set transect length of bank!).
- On returning to the bank, the bags collected from the set transect length should be carefully emptied and sorted through, with the types of waste collected recorded on the Survey123 app or printed data sheet (if the latter is chosen, the data will need to be uploaded to the Survey123 form on completion of the litter pick).
- When sorting and recording the litter, the top three most polluting brands should be noted down.
- Remember to record the total number of bags you fill across the entire day (from both the transect area and wider bank) and to recycle any clean bottles and cans!
- Leave filled bags by an easily accessible public bin for collection by you local council. For larger picks, it may be necessary to arrange for collection of the waste in advance with your local council.
Environment Agency Teams
Note: Weirs, locks and trash screens are hazardous structures and therefore should not be cleared by members of the public. These structures should be cleared by trained Environment Agency staff only.
- Environment Agency staff should pick a time between Sat 27th May and Sun 11th June to carry out their survey (ideally when a significant amount of litter has collected within their chosen structure or stretch of river).
- Environment Agency staff should use a long handled net or rake to clear the build-up of waste that gathers within a weir, lock, trash screen or stretch of river.
- Waste should then be carefully emptied on the bank and sorted through.
- The types of waste collected should be recorded on the Survey123 app or a printed data sheet (if the latter is chosen, the data will need to be uploaded to the Survey123 form at a later time).
- The waste should then be re-bagged and appropriately disposed of (remember to recycle any clean cans and bottles!).
Meet the Teams
Take a look at the teams that have already signed up to take part in the Plasticblitz 2023.
Abingdon Cuts Plastic
Action for the River Kennet
Chiltern Rangers
Crossness River Action Group
Creekside Education Trust
EA EAN Team
EA Estates Team
EA Herts & North London Team
EA LNA A&R
EA Reading Team
EA Waterways Team F
Environmental Rescue Group
Europa School UK
Great Valley Ouse Trust
Hampton Canoe Club
Houghton & Wyton Time Bank
Letcombe Brook Project
Maidenhead WI
Metis
Plastic Free Chesterfield
Plastic Free Seaford
ReAP & ANLRS
River Roding Trust
Rivers & People Project
Robin Hood Garden
Roding Rubbish
Rotary Club of Banbury
Rotary Club of Bourne End & Cookham
Rotary Club of Elthorne-Hillingdon
Rotary Club of Henley on Thames
Rotary Club of High Wycombe
Rotary Club of Langley & Iver
Rotary Club of Loddon Vale
Rotary Clubs in Maidenhead
Rotary Clubs of Marlow & the Sea Cadets
Rotary Club of Misbourne Matins
Rotary Club of Newbury
The Rotary Club of Oxford North
The Rotary Club of Reading
Rotary Club of Pangbourne
White Horse Rotary Faringdon
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
StAR - St Ives Against Rubbish
St Mary's Eco Church
Strandliners
Thames Landscape Strategy
Thames River Watch
UWC Atlantic
Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure
Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure - Ranger Team
Wild Eton Wick
WaSh Wombles
Waterlink Way of Life
Waterways Pickers of Staines
Abingdon Cuts Plastic
Abingdon Cuts Plastic is part of the wider Community Group, Carbon Cutters. We are committed to reducing single-use plastic in our town and plastic pollution in the River Thames which runs through the town. Twice a year we team up with the local litter-picking group AbiBinit, and Kingfisher Canoe Club, for a river and riverbank clean-up. We have been granted "Plastic-free Community" status by Surfers Against Sewage. We're excited to be part of the Plasticblitz again this year!
Action for the River Kennet
ARK is based in Marlborough, Wiltshire. We are the Rivers Trust for the Kennet and Pang catchments. We are also a registered charity. Our Love the Lambourn project will be carrying out an in river litter pick in the SSSI chalk stream, the River Lambourn.
Chiltern Rangers
Join us in the River Wye and surrounding areas to stop litter in its tracks and keep it out the rivers and oceans. Follow on social media @chilternrangers to learn more!
Crossness River Action Group
The Crossness River Action Group (CRAG) was formed in summer 2022 to clean up the foreshore at Crossness, Thamesmead, SE28. This part of the riverside is a natural landscape, abundant with wildlife like seals and wading birds. For years, litter - much of it plastic - has washed in with the tides and gets trapped in a corner of the flood defence wall. CRAG aims to remove all litter to stop it fragmenting, contaminating the land and harming wildlife and ultimately going down river to the sea.
Our volunteer-led group, supported by Thames21, has four NCFE-qualified river action leaders. In autumn 2022, we received a grant from Making Space For Nature fund to buy equipment for our events.
Creekside Education Trust
Creekside Education Trust is a unique charity which owns and runs the Creekside Discovery Centre on the banks of Deptford Creek. We are a wildlife conservation and environmental education charity with a vision for building a vibrant community in the heart of London where people and wildlife can thrive. We do this through:
• Habitat management of our grounds and intertidal zones, which are some of the most biodiverse areas for their size in London • Educating adults on the value of these habitats, Deptford Creek and the local area • A formal education programme of adventurous, hands-on learning for schools, colleges, universities • Delivering activities for family learning • Working with developers to improve land management in the area • Working with volunteers who strengthen these outputs.
We are joining Plasticblitz to help highlight plastic litter in Deptford Creek, encourage community involvement and to create publicity of the problem.
EA EAN Team
We are a team in the Environment Agency focusing on environmental improvement and will be organising a Plasticblitz event as part of our Environmental Outcome Days.
EA Estates Team
We are representing our professional land and property service for East Anglia, Hertfordshire and North London. We specialise in: negotiating access to land and property, agreeing the terms for the location of our equipment with land/property owners, settling compensation claims where people or businesses have suffered loss as a consequence of our works, managing our land and residential properties and getting the maximum income from lettings to maximise the environmental and recreational value.
EA Herts & North London Team
We are Environment Agency employees based in the Herts & North London Area. We are committed to creating a better environment for people and wildlife and are working with Thames21 to remove plastic pollution from our environment.
EA LNA A&R
We are the Analysis & Reporting (A&R) Team at the Environment Agency. We cover the Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire region looking at how water quality and quantity impacts freshwater ecosystems.
EA Reading Team
The Environment Agency Reading Team will be running two Plasticblitz events from the Kings Meadow Office in Reading.
EA Waterways Team F
We are the Environment Agency Waterways Team, covering the river from Shepperton Lock to Bray Lock. Taking part to help clean up our river!
Environmental Rescue Group
Staines Rotary Club have teamed up with local environmental groups that work in the Staines area, which includes tree wardens, litter pickers, environmental cafe and local councillors.
The purpose of this group is to co-ordinate, when needed, environmental projects to maximise the positive environmental impact on the community.
Europa School UK
Three Year-4 classes at Europa School UK Primary are learning about rivers and water pollution so the Plasticblitz is the perfect complement to their classroom-based learning.
Great Valley Ouse Trust
Hampton Canoe Club
Hampton Canoe Club is a social paddling club based on a beautiful part of the Thames, less than a mile from Hampton Court Palace. We care about our environment and do litter picks (both land-based and water-based) through the year.
Houghton & Wyton Time Bank
Houghton & Wyton Time Bank is a group who support one another through individual and group exchanges of time. We also organise events that bring the community together. Litter picks have been part of our offering for a long time, and living so close to a waterway, it makes sense that we would turn our attention to the river!
Letcombe Brook Project
Letcombe Brook Project have been working to look after the Letcombe Brook, a rare Oxfordshire chalk stream, for 20 years. Our volunteers carry out habitat improvement work and litter picks to improve the river for people and wildlife.
Maidenhead WI
Maidenhead WI is a group of 65 ladies who meet each week at Altwood School - new members always welcome! This year WIs across the country are supporting a resolution to help clean our rivers and that is why we would like to take part in the Plasticblitz.
Metis
Metis are taking part to contribute to environmental sustainability and all enjoyed partaking in the successful Plasticblitz in 2022.
Plastic Free Chesterfield
Plastic Free Chesterfield and Transition Chesterfield are committed to eliminating unnecessary plastic use in our area. We host a litter pick on the second Thursday of each month. Volunteers needed and very welcome. Meet in Queen's Park near the Cricket Pavilion. Further info on our Facebook pages or www.transitionchesterfield.org.uk
Plastic Free Seaford
ReAP & ANLRS
As the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme, we already run beach cleans and recycle plastic along with Recreational and Commercial Fishing litter. We will work with local volunteer groups and run four Plasticblitz events this year!
River Roding Trust
A Trust focused on a vision for the River Roding.
We believe our work on the river speaks for itself. Browse our most recent projects below and enjoy our handy work at restoring, preserving and protecting our local river: https://riverrodingtrust.org.uk/
Rivers & People Project
Rivers & People, is a regular river volunteering group within the London Borough of Lewisham. The volunteers meet every Tuesday and do a variety of volunteering activities, including guided walks and wades along the Ravensbourne, Pool and Quaggy rivers, natural history workshops, practical conservation sessions for biodiversity and amenity benefit, and river clean-ups to remove unwanted debris and invasive species.
Robin Hood Garden
Robin Hood Garden works to connect communities to nature, increase awareness and understanding of the importance of environmental issues, and to show how if we work together to nurture wildlife and biodiversity, our city will be a happier, healthier place.
Roding Rubbish
Roding Rubbish is a litter picking community group in The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, based in Barking, Essex. We have are a diverse group volunteers, who want to improve the environment for wildlife and people. We want to clear the waterways and other green spaces in the area of rubbish that has been fly-tipped or just general litter. Recently have collaborated with a company called AreYouMad who recycle plastic. It’s nice too see not all the rubbish goes straight to landfill!
Rotary Club of Banbury
Banbury Rotary Club took part in the May 2022 Thames Valley Clean-up. We were supported by both the District and Town Councils. When the opportunity came to take part in this year's Plasticblitz, we were delighted to receive both council's full support once again.
This year we are hoping to involve other supporting groups and extend the length of Oxford Canal and River Cherwell being tackled.
Rotary Club of Bourne End & Cookham
LitterBlitz is an environmental group for like-minded people interested in our wildlife & environment, to be actively showing awareness of the damage & dangers of strewn litter in our countryside & watercourses. We clear areas of litter throughout the year, particularly from the nearby River Wye chalk stream & country routes/roadsides. We encourage others to help in our quest for a better & safer neighbourhood in Bourne End & Wooburn Green, Buckinghamshire & further afield too.
Rotary Club of Elthorne-Hillingdon
BE PART OF THE SOLLUTION NOT THE POLLUTION.
We Are Rotary Club of Elthorne-Hillingdon, and we meet in person at Uxbridge Golf Club, The Drive, Ickenham, Uxbridge, UB10 8AQ, every Wednesday at 7.30pm. We are planning to litter pick at Little Britain Lake, which is between the River Colne and Frays River. The date proposed is Saturday 27th May 2023 and we intend to reach out to partner organisations; Hillingdon Litter Pickers and Brunel Volunteers, Let’s Go Outside and Learn, Canal & River Trust.
Rotary Club of Henley on Thames
The Rotary Club of Henley on Thames will be working alongside other groups such as Henley Sea Cadets, Henley Rowing Club and Gillotts School. We intend to clean the River Thames and banks from Shiplake Lock to Hambeldon Lock.
Rotary Club of High Wycombe
The River Wye, a tributary of the River Thames, flows through our town. Our aim is to help reduce the volume of litter entering the Wye and being carried into the Thames.
Rotary Club of Langley & Iver
Our Rotary Club is small but active and we regularly undertake litterpicks in our local area.
Rotary Club of Loddon Vale
The Rotary Club of Loddon Vale conduct events in our community to raise awareness of the Thames and will again be taking part in the Plasticblitz again following a successful last year.
Rotary Clubs in Maidenhead
Rotary Maidenhead Thames and Maidenhead Bridge Rotary Club are planning an event in the Eco Action Hub and a litter pick along the Thames in Maidenhead, including other local groups such as Maidenhead Waterways.
Rotary Clubs of Marlow & the Sea Cadets
Marlow Sea Cadets, along with 400 other units in the UK, is affiliated to our national organisation the Marine Society and the Sea Cadets and is a stand alone registered charity. The aims of the Sea Cadets are to develop young people in an inclusive environment to achieve their full potential, to have respect for themselves and other, the community and the environment they live in. The plastic waste collection is important as it will also contribute to the Cadets achieving their Sea Cadet Community Awards.
Rotary Club of Misbourne Matins
Misbourne Matins is a Rotary Club serving the community of Gerrards Cross but often working with other Rotary Clubs in the area. We have a strong focus on the environment and the community.
Rotary Club of Newbury
Newbury Rotary Club, first established in 1952, will be running our Blitz near to the River Lambourne and the Kennet and Avon.
The Rotary Club of Oxford North
Oxford North Rotary Club is based in North Oxford; we have ~45 members and are engaged in a wide variety of local activities, mostly charitable and/or community based. The vibe of the club is informal and we pride ourselves as being friendly, sociable and welcoming of others.
The Rotary Club of Reading
The Rotary Club of Reading Environmental Group and friends.
Rotary Club of Pangbourne
We are Pangbourne Rotary and we are keen to help meet environmental challenges. We recognise plastic has a very damaging effect on the environment and wildlife and we look forward to taking part in the Plastcblitz again this year!
White Horse Rotary Faringdon
We are a Rotary Club in Faringdon, Oxfordshire and the area we cover as a club straddles the Thames, so it important to us that this area is litter free. We would hope to persuade some schools or activity groups to also take part.
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) is a local government organisation. Our Natural Environment team are taking part in the Plasticblitz, by organising our own Blitz, and by supporting community groups in their litter picks. We are taking part in the Plasticblitz to improve the quality of our waterbodies and surrounding areas, to engage more members of the community with ecological conservation and because it is a target of our local Biodiversity Action Plan.
StAR - St Ives Against Rubbish
St Ives Against Rubbish (STAR) is a Campaign for people who care about the environment in and around St Ives, Cambridgeshire, and who wish to take action to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the wrong place, including litter. It is a community collaboration founded by St Ives in Bloom, St Ives EcoAction, Huntingdsonshire Green Party and with the support of Town Council, St Ives Rotary Club.
St Mary's Eco Church
St Mary's Eco Church run an afterschool group for secondary school children who are passionate about the environment.
Strandliners
Strandliners has been collecting data on plastic pollution in marine and riverine environments since 2012, through community engagement and citizen science. We are based in East Sussex and Kent, and work in the catchments of the Rivers Rother, Cuckmere, Ouse and Adur. The survey events for the Plasticblitz will focus on identification and recording to increase the knowledge of litter breakdown at each site in the River Rother catchment. This follows Strandliners involvement on the Preventing Plastic Pollution projects for the Rother, Ouse and Adur. It is the fascination of this forensic approach, the knowledge that the data is contributing to the reduction of potential pollution at source, and the immediate sense of helping wildlife and habitats, that keep us going! All ages and experience welcome, there will be cake!
Thames Landscape Strategy
Our vision is to conserve, enhance and promote the landscape of the River Thames between Weybridge and Kew.
Our Plasticblitz event will be taking place on a part of the Longford River that runs through Feltham before it reaches the River Thames. This 'hidden' urban river has a huge problem with plastic pollution and needs your help to tackle it!
Thames River Watch
Thames River Watch has set up clean ups and litter surveys to monitor the categories of litter collecting and to monitor the impact of plastics on the River Thames. We want to further determine the litter that is ending up on our river and work towards creating change. We welcome those from the age of 10 (with an adult) to come and join us at any of our events.
UWC Atlantic
We are a group of students from UWC Atlantic and we are conducting a litter pick on the Cardiff bay area to help clear out some of the litter there as action to celebrate World Oceans Day. We want to take part in Plasticblitz to help categorise the types of waste in our rivers and find out how we can target pollution.
Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure
Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure is a charity organization which runs nature conservation tasks with members of public.
Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure - Ranger Team
We manage parks and open spaces in Redbridge as the Nature Conservation team for biodiversity.
Wild Eton Wick
Based in Eton Wick with views of Windsor Castle, we're a volunteer led organisation looking to restore balance to our environment and proud to be one of the founding and continuing member groups for this activity in the Maidenhead to Teddington catchment.
As in previous years, our Plasticblitz also includes the opportunity to monitor water quality and riverfies so we get a real snapshot of river health.
WaSh Wombles
The WaSh Wombles are a community group that run community litter picks in Tower Hamlets with a particular focus on Wapping, Shadwell and Stepney.
Waterlink Way of Life
Hosting a family friendly community group litter pick by the river ravensbourne in Catford to prevent litter going into our river.
Waterways Pickers of Staines
Live Results for 2023
Plasticblitz 2023 Dashboard
