16 October 2017
Norwich Green Party members will be canoeing through the city, joined by members of the local community, to clear litter from the River Wensum on Saturday 21st October.
As awareness of the damage caused by plastic waste grows, Green Councillor for Thorpe Hamlet ward, Lesley Grahame, said:
“Plastics thrown into the river are part of the massive global contamination problem that’s so damaging to fish stock and other marine life. We believe in building communities and a litter-pick like this offers a great opportunity for everyone to get involved.”
The planned litter collection will be by foot along the river’s banks and on the water, by canoe. Gloves and litter grabbers will be provided for participants. The river clean-up is part of a larger Norwich Green Party campaign to reduce the amount of plastic we use and throw away.
Leader of the Green Group on Norwich City Council, Martin Schmierer, said:
“People are waking up to the dangers of single-use plastics. The good news is that there are affordable and greener alternatives such as plant based food packaging”. Councillor Schmierer proposed a successful motion to the council in September 2016, requesting that its use of single-use plastics be phased out.
Norwich Greens have also asked the city council to investigate the bulk buying of recyclable beakers, food trays and paper bags for offering at cost price to stall holders on Norwich market.
The community litter clean-up will start at 10:30am on Saturday 21st October, meeting in Norwich at the Compleat Angler on Prince of Wales Road.
Background information:
• ‘Plastic in our environment’ is one of two major campaigns Norwich Green Party is running this year.
• Norwich Greens took part in the Wensum canoe-based litter collection organised by Rivercare and supported by Pub and Paddle on 24th September.
