Litter Free Maritime Project
The Problem
Like many areas of the UK, the Chatham Maritime Peninsular suffers from litter, and like much of the UK coastline this litter is escaping into the water of the docks and estuary nearby. Once it has been released into the water it is much harder to collect, and more likely to cause damage to the environment. Once lost into the environment, depending on the material it will persist over 400 years.
Work is already being done to tackle the litter:
- CMT regularly collect litter from the roads, pathways and foreshore.
- MDL remove litter from the marina that had ended up in the marina.
- Wind proofing the bottom of the fences around the Basins to prevent it reaching the water.
- Businesses like Chatham Historic Dockyard have replaced some disposable items from their sites.
However there is still litter arriving in the waterways and streets of Chatham Maritime, so the partnership project was created to develop a data and evidence led solution.
With Chatham Maritime Trust and MDL Marinas we are running a two year project using the initial data collected to significantly reduce litter by making interventions on the site around St Mary’s Island, the Basins and the Universities. For example:
- Clean ups around the foreshore with community and business.
- Businesses implement solutions to prevent litter escaping from customers and sites by innovation and technological interventions.
- Litter collection improvements where litter has escaped into the basins and the Medway Estuary.
- Workshops with businesses and communities for waste management, resource use and simple swaps.
Litter Free Maritime
The project is also working towards businesses, schools and universities becoming plastic free so that the Chatham Maritime can become accredited as a Plastic Free Community under Surfers against Sewage national scheme.
2023 New Year Blitz!
We refurbished the litter collecting boom during the winter due to storm damage. We went out each Sunday afternoon in January to clear the litter before the spring!
To join us on our next litter collecting adventure, simply email us using the button below:
Litter Free Maritime Progress
January 2023 Blitz
The January Blitz has been attended by volunteers from the foundation, local residents and Chatham Marina berth holders. Four clean-ups were completed, while staff from a local business, Ward Security, helped the Foundation and Marina staff remove the boom sections ready for their winter refurb.
We found some interesting items, including a boomerang and a garage door remote! There was a clear decrease in litter over the month. But when we returned to our monthly clean-ups, while the volume is much lower overall, some types of litter started to increase again, these include wristbands, clear and food wrappers.
The Monthly litter picks will resume in April, once the boom is relaunched and replaced. If you would like to join the events or other work in Chatham Maritime Area please email us using the button below
Removal and Data Analysis
Regular clean ups have been running with the support of both Chatham Maritime Trust and Medway Council. A reporting app and form is available for anyone to photograph and report litter wherever it is across the estate. The clean ups and reporting has created a number of hotspots around the estate that we are now able to act upon. A snapshot of the reports are below, for a live feed as to where reports are coming in from, please check out our map here. Find out how to get involved below.
Action
St Mary’s Island Residents Association (SMIRA) were the first to take direct action under the project, in their summer picnic, when they managed to arrange (right down to the bunting) a single use plastic free event. We came along to help residents with suggestions of simple swaps and had a great time despite the heat! Find out more here.
Litter Free Maritime Action
Get Involved
Come and volunteer to clean up the foreshore, roads and community areas. Events currently planned are listed on our facebook events page. Or email Litterfree@living-river.org to be notified of the next event. There are plastic free events, easy swap workshops and other volunteering opportunities available.
Anyone can report litter from your phone wherever you are across the Chatham Maritime Estate.
For Desktop input the full survey form is here
Schools and University, Businesses leaders and representatives get involved, we can run workshops, add bins and other innovative solutions to the area.
Events are published on our calendar and here
Get in touch and see what we are up to litterfree@living-river.org or join us on our facebook group