25 July 2018
Islanders are being invited to take part in a beach clean with a difference this Sunday. Eco active have planned a silent disco for people who want to help clean up Havre Des Pas as part of the Plastic Free Jersey initiative.
The event was inspired by a similar event in Brighton earlier this year. Jane Burns, Eco active’s Programme Manager, said: “We have a student on placement with us this summer who saw the event in Brighton and was keen for us to host our own. She has taken on organising this event and we are really excited to see how it pans out in Jersey.
“We hope the disco element will make this beach clean a little bit different. Everyone is welcome, a little bit of fun goes a long way! The beach clean will be taking place at Havre Des Pas from 1.30-3.30pm, starting by the Lifeguard Station.
“We chose Havre Des Pas as the lifeguards at the pool have the first of our beach cleaning boards. These boards have been made for us at the prison, and hold reusable bags and litter pickers, so people visiting the pool and beach can carry out their own beach clean whenever they like.”
Surfers against sewage
The regional representative for Surfers Against Sewage, Linzi Hawkin, said: “One of the criteria for Plastic Free Jersey status looks at our ‘on the ground actions’ so it’s important we get people involved in a variety of different ways. The silent disco might appeal to people who haven’t been involved with an activity like this before. Please dress for the weather as well as for the activity and remember to bring your own reusable water bottle.”
The Plastic Free Jersey website provides individuals, businesses, schools and groups with toolkits that will help them reduce their single-plastic use. People can also make commitments and share their success when they meet them.
What is Plastic Free Jersey?
This initiative has been developed by Surfers Against Sewage UK to tackle plastic pollution; specifically in coastal areas. At present 150 communities are working towards gaining this status but Jersey are the largest jurisdiction to participate so far. Once we have met the criteria we will be awarded ‘Plastic Free Jersey’ status as part of the Plastic Free Coastlines initiative.
Plastic Free Coastlines (PFC) has five objectives that serve as qualifying criteria; taking local action, committing to removing unnecessary single-use plastics and making a concerted effort to make alternatives readily available.
Gaining this status will celebrate the good work that already goes on across States of Jersey, local businesses, grass roots organisations and within the community as a whole. Plastic Free Jersey (PFJ) will provide a platform for us to further improve our environmental performance, specifically in reducing, reusing and recycling our single use plastic waste including the plastic waste that washes up along our coastline.
Surfers Against Sewage criteria for ‘Plastic Free Jersey’ status
Objective 1: local governance
- States of Jersey (SOJ) passes a resolution to support PFC, committing to plastic free alternatives & supporting plastic reduction
- SOJ must lead by example to remove single-use plastic items from premises
- SOJ to encourage plastic free initiatives, promoting the campaign & supporting the events
- a representative of SOJ must be named on the PFC steering group
Objective 2: local businesses
- businesses become Plastic Free members by reaching the agreed standard
- at least 3 single-use plastic items removed from local businesses & retailers
- single use plastic items to be replaced with sustainable alternatives (or waste stream removed completely or significantly reduced)
Objective 3: Plastic Free stakeholders
- gain widespread community support for PFJ, spreading the plastic free message and establishing the call to arms against waste
- support from local media (including social media)
- key influencers and organisations engaged
- PFJ steering group established
- events for general public / community involvement
- 50% of community spaces to show some community engagement and participation
- schools involvement
- college involvement
- involvement of at least 1 flag-ship employer with over 100 staff to be involved
- educational talks & presentations to inform wide selection of the public as to what they can do to support PFJ
Objective 4: on the ground actions
Objective 5: local strategic groups
local group of stakeholders to meet at least once per year to discuss the progress of PFJ
agreeing and setting direction, meeting objectives, and completing application for official PFJ status (SOJ & flagship business must be a member of group)
gov.je