Canal charity urges Rochdale families to protect the planet by picking up plastics

Plastic in River Roch near The Point Retail Park

Waterways and wellbeing charity Canal & River Trust is calling on Rochdale borough residents to help stop half a million pieces of plastic reaching the ocean by pledging to join its national Plastics Challenge.

In the last six months, the charity has seen a 68% increase in reports from the public about unsightly litter on the towpath and in its canals and rivers. Figures show that reports more than doubled during the month of June this year, compared with the same time last year.

The increase is likely to be down to a greater public awareness of the plastics issue and the fact that in many urban areas towpath usage dramatically increased during the coronavirus lockdown – with people staying local and discovering their local canal towpath for the first time.

As lockdown restrictions tighten across the North West, many families will be looking for new outdoor activities over the coming months. The Canal & River Trust’s Plastics Challenge offers an opportunity for people to enjoy the beautiful waterways and make a big difference to their local area. If every time someone visited their local canal or river, they picked up and disposed of just one piece of plastic, within a year there would be no plastic left, says the Canal & River Trust.

Becki Anderson, North West environment and heritage manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: “Every year 14 million pieces of plastic end up in and around our canals and rivers, and these plastic bottles, food wrappers, bags and straws can be harmful for the fish, swans, ducks and birds that make the canals their home.

“By taking a pledge to support our Plastics Challenge and taking part in a litter pick with your family or on your own as part of your daily exercise, you are making a commitment to helping the local wildlife too.”

While people need to carefully follow government guidelines on social distancing and washing their hands, the trust is asking visitors to carry out a short litter pick while enjoying some exercise at their local canal or river.

Please make sure you wear gloves or use a litter picker if you have one, and please take home what you collect and recycle what you can.

The charity would love to hear from anyone who has accepted the challenge and is encouraging people to share their photos on social media with the #PlasticsChallenge

To ensure everyone takes part in the challenge safely, it’s created a handy guide which can be downloaded here:

• https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/plasticschallenge

To make a pledge to support the Canal & River Trust’s Plastics Challenge,  visit:

• www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/plasticschallenge or follow on social media @CanalRiverTrust