Stonehaven joined communities up and down Scotland and the rest of the UK uniting for Surfers against Sewage’s The People vs Plastic campaign to take a stand against government inaction on plastic pollution – which saw protests and beach cleans taking place over the weekend as part of a National Day of Action.
On Saturday July 19, Stonehaven residents and visitors got involved in a community beach clean, this was followed by a ‘Save our Seas from Plastic’ Sandcastle Competition and Plastic Free Protest.
The campaign hopes to send a clear message: governments must act decisively to tackle plastic pollution at its source, to position the UK as a global leader in the fight against single-use plastics.
The aim is to ramp up the pressure on governments ahead of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, reconvening in Geneva from 5-14 August. Earlier talks collapsed in South Korea last year, with countries failing to agree on reducing plastic production. Campaigners say that a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty is urgently needed to cut pollution at its source and protect blue spaces.
Data was collected during the community cleans, which will help Surfers Against Sewage map the true scale of plastic pollution, and name the brands and retailers most to blame.
Plastic Free Stonehaven Lead Marion Montgomery said: ”We’re joining the People vs Plastic protest to call for real action against the producers of the huge amount of plastic packaging, for tighter restrictions against ‘new’ things entering the market to avoid the future carnages caused by allowing things like single use vapes to be put on sale to the public.
”In Stonehaven we’re looking forward to our community clean, which is always so well supported, to highlight how we feel about the lack of action against the producers of the crazy amount of single use plastics.
”With the Tall Ships here this weekend and celebrations centred around the sea, it’s hopefully also highlighting our need to protect it for future generations.”
Communities and schools are at the forefront of Surfers Against Sewage’s campaign against plastic, with over 400 active Plastic Free Communities, of which Stonehaven is one, with 14 Plastic Free Champion Businesses, 3 of which have achieved silver level. The community has also removed well over a tonne of waste from Stonehaven Beach run by Plastic Free Stonehaven and local charity Paws on Plastic since they started in 2023.
