Plastic Patrol is coming to Rochdale

Plastic Patrol is bringing free activity-led clean ups to Rochdale and is calling on local volunteers to tackle plastic pollution on the ground.

Join eco-activist Lizzie Carr, founder of the nationwide community movement, Plastic Patrol, to tackle plastic pollution hotspots this weekend. With demand from the community for action, this is a chance to get involved with environmental initiatives on the ground.

Plastic Patrol will provide free paddle boarding clean-ups, on Sunday 28 July in Rochdale at 10am and 12.00pm, as the environmental non-profit embarks on its biggest goal yet - to log and remove one million pieces of plastic to represent the one million marine animals killed each year due to plastic pollution.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or a total pro - everyone is welcome to come along to try out paddle boarding and no experience is necessary, making this Plastic Patrol clean up accessible to all. In return, Plastic Patrol asks participants to pay a ‘nature tax’ by picking up plastic waste and logging it in the Plastic Patrol app. Every piece collected contributes towards Lizzie’s mission to remove and log one million pieces of plastic in 2019, representing the one million marine animals.

Paddle boarding, yoga, parkour and canoeing clubs and instructors, are offering free activities this year around the UK as part of a summer series of wellbeing clean ups.

Lizzie said: “By joining up with clubs and instructors across the UK and incorporating more activities, I’ve opened Plastic Patrol up to a wider network so more people can get involved.

“This will help gather even more data from other parts of the country, giving us invaluable insight into plastic waste issues. Not only found in waterways, but also on land – parks, mountains, streets – logging a huge cross section of data to analyse.”

Lizzie took up paddle boarding following cancer treatment in 2014 as a means of rehabilitation and felt the positive physical and mental benefits immediately. Her time on the water also exposed her to the devastating impact of plastic pollution in nature and she has since dedicated herself to exploring the globe on paddle boarding adventures, using her journeys to capture important data to highlight and educate on environmental issues affecting our planet. 

Whilst initial efforts began on and around UK waterways, intercepting plastic waste inland before it reaches the oceans, Lizzie’s ambition is much bigger. This year, qualified instructors and clubs around the UK across five disciplines will run activity based clean ups, helping mobilise more communities and connect them with environmental issues through physical activities.

The Plastic Patrol app was launched in 2016 and currently holds the largest bank of plastic data for the UK inland waterways on record. It is focused on building a tangible and valuable evidence base through its army of passionate volunteers.

The data collected will be analysed by scientists at University of Nottingham to provide current and detailed insight into trends and patterns. This insight will create vital evidence to inform public policy around smarter and more circular packaging solutions, and responsible manufacturing behaviour.

To book a space on this FREE wellbeing clean up with Plastic Patrol visit the website for more information:

• plasticpatrol.co.uk/clean-ups/

Meet at Rochdale Canal, Windsor Street, Rochdale, OL11 1NA at 10am on Sunday 28 July.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/62199/plastic-patrol-is-coming-to-rochdale

Look out for the Plastic Patrol flags and brightly coloured paddle boards on the day - you can't miss it.