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Plastic Waste

Do you know where it comes from and where it goes?

The Real Problem with Plastic

In the past 100 years, humans have made and used a lot of plastic. It’s cheap, strong, lightweight, and useful for all kinds of things. But all of that plastic ends up somewhere - usually in the ground, the air, or the sea.

That’s where the real problem starts.

Why Is Plastic So Harmful?

Plastic waste is everywhere from mountain tops to the deepest parts of the ocean. Every minute, the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of plastic is dumped into the sea. It’s showing up in places we once thought were untouched. And marine animals like albatrosses, dolphins, and turtles are often the ones paying the price - they eat it, get tangled in it, and suffer or die because of it.

Plastic Lasts for Centuries

Plastic doesn't disappear. Instead, it breaks into smaller pieces called microplastics and nanoplastics. These tiny fragments enter the food chain and have been found in our water, the air, and even inside our own bodies. No one knows exactly how long it takes plastic to break down but it’s estimated to take hundreds of years. And while it lingers, it releases toxins and threatens wildlife.

Image by engin akyurt
Top Problem Pastics in the UK:

1.     Plastic bottles – 38.5 million used daily; many end up as waste.

2.     Disposable coffee cups – 7 million used every day.

3.     Takeaway containers – 11 billion used each year.

4.     Food & drink packaging – Makes up 83% of plastic waste.

5.     Carrier bags – 400 million still used annually.

6.     Bathroom plastics – Found on 72% of UK beaches.

7.     Plastic cups – Switching to reusable cups could save 1,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per million cups.

8.     Condiment sachets – 855 billion used worldwide; most Brits want them banned.

9.     Balloons – Extremely dangerous to seabirds and marine life, even 'biodegradable' versions.

Plastic and Climate Change

Plastic is made mostly from fossil fuels like oil, gas, and even coal. This means our use of plastic increases the demand for these planet-warming fuels. Making plastic and burning it in incinerators releases greenhouse gases and toxic air pollution, which worsen global warming.

 

By continuing to rely on plastic, we’re also continuing to rely on dirty, climate-damaging fuels.

The Single-Use Problem

Not all plastic is bad but the kind we use once and throw away causes the biggest harm. Only about 9% of plastic is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, oceans, or gets burned.

What Can We Do?

The good news? We can all help.

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Wherever you live and whoever you are, you can take steps to reduce plastic use. Say no to single-use items, choose reusable options, and support bigger changes in your community and country. Together, we can protect wildlife, our health, and the planet’s future.

Crushed Plastic Bottles
Plastic Bottles

Hidden Plastics

Plastic is hiding in plain sight - in places you'd never imagine.
Much of it ends up contaminating our soil, rivers, and oceans - harming wildlife and, ultimately, us.
It’s time to phase out hidden plastics and we need to act quickly.

These everyday items all contain plastic. How many did you know about?

Take Action: Join the Fight Against Plastic Pollution

Surfers Against Sewage have launched a bold new campaign, The People vs Plastic, taking aim at the real culprits behind our plastic crisis: the major polluters and broken systems that keep us trapped in a cycle of waste. It's time to stop blaming individuals and start holding big business accountable.

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Explore the campaign here and discover how you can be part of the movement.

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Here’s how you can take action today:
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  • Participate in or organise community clean-up events.
     

  • Email a business that you believe could do better. You may find some of the suggestions in this handy template useful when starting conversations or contacting businesses. Please feel free to adapt it to your needs.
     

  • Contact your local council to ask what steps they’re taking to tackle plastic waste and support sustainable local businesses.
     

  • Write to your MP to demand stronger government action on plastic pollution and climate change.

     

Your voice matters - use it to push for real change.

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If you would like more information on ways to reduce plastic waste at home, at work, or in your community, we have a series of articles available on our website that are a good starting point.
 
You can also visit the Stroud District Action on Plastic website, which offers valuable information and resources for individuals and organisations in Gloucestershire committed to cutting down their plastic footprint.

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