An online plastic pollution workshop hosted by the Environment Agency and the University of Portsmouth has provided local communities with advice on how to tackle plastic pollution in the local area.
The workshop, held yesterday, focused on behaviour change and was aimed at representatives from zero-waste and plastic-free groups that want to encourage local people to stamp out the use of avoidable plastic waste in their lives.
Speakers at the event included Sohvi Nuojua from the Behavioural Science Team at the University of Portsmouth, who shared evidence-based techniques that can be used to reduce littering and encourage recycling, and Clare Seek from Plastic Free Portsmouth, who discussed her experiences of working with community groups in Portsmouth.
Jonathan Harvey, from the Environment Agency’s Plastics and Sustainability Team, said: “Bringing together experts and sharing their valuable skills and experience with Portsmouth communities will provide encouragement, confidence and reassurance that local organisations can make a real difference.
“If we are going to improve the quality of our environment, it is important to get everybody involved. [This] workshop supports communities with the latest tools, knowledge, and evidence to change behaviours and tackle plastic pollution within their patch.
“We’re encouraging everybody to re-evaluate the things that they buy and consume – to step away from single-use items and choose more reusable, repairable, and sustainable alternatives.
“Whatever you do, small steps will contribute towards creating cleaner communities and marine environments.”
The online workshop was the second plastic pollution event aimed at Portsmouth communities as part of the EU-funded Interreg Preventing Plastic Pollution project.
The first plastic pollution workshop took place in October and encouraged communities to form a network, access resources and collectively start taking steps to tackle plastic pollution.
The Preventing Plastic Pollution project works in partnership with 18 organisations across England and France and aims to help organisations understand and reduce the impact of plastic pollution in river and marine environments.
References : https://resource.co/article/plastic-pollution-workshop-provides-guidance-portsmouth-residents