Getting a grip on litter: a charity s perspective John Harold Cymdeithas Eryri the Snowdonia Society
Getting a grip on litter: a charity's perspective. Whose litter and whose problem? Picking up the pieces and behaviour change gaps in data & novel approaches
Whose litter?...and whose problem?
Whose litter? 450000 400000 350000 300000 250000 200000 Monitro Ymwelwyr PCE 2013 holl lwybrau'r ucheldir SNP Visitor Monitoring 2013 annual comparison - Cymhariaeth o - All upland paths 150000 449327 100000 50000 0 49240 123192 Cadair Idris Ogwen & Idwal Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon
Whose problem?
Whose problem?
Picking up the pieces and behaviour change Snowdon Tidy Partnership Snowdonia Society, Snowdonia National Park Authority, Natural Resources Wales, National Trust, Bangor University, RAW Adventures, mountain railway etc Runs on 100% pure goodwill Action Research approach Co-ordinated efforts on clean-up work wardens, volunteer wardens, volunteers, outdoor activities leaders Practical work, research, innovation, and behaviour change intervention
Linking people to litter Quantity Distribution Type Quantity of litter = Number of people x Quantity of waste carried mean Behaviour factor Behaviour factor = Experience x Awareness x Leadership x Memory prompts x Environmental stimulus x Waste facilities x Conditions x..!
Gaps in data & understanding Jigsaw puzzle with most pieces still missing Real costs of litter including to charities like Snowdonia Society Is the mountain environment different? Is it getting better or worse? Who do we need to reach? How do we need to reach them? Polluter pays principle? Etc
What contribution do challenge events make? Example: Snowdon 500 / Welsh 3 Peaks events Raise awareness & over 1million for prostate cancer research over 7 years 650 people on Snowdon over weekend in mid-june, including 150 doing Welsh 3 Peaks Each pays 35/ 45 entry and commits to raise > 250 sponsorship Minimal overheads volunteer led 1 per person to Llanberis Mountain Rescue How effectively guided and prepared are participants?
Some novel approaches Collecting a wide variety of data using different methods Use of appropriate technology Using survey activity and survey data to relay messages Make litter interesting & make litter relevant
GPS dataloggers - quick & easy to use
LitterLog - open source android app -records litter type and location - developed with Bangor University
Plastics Paper Metals Clothi ng Cigare tte Glass Fruit skins and cores Miscellaneous Surveys Bandage Confetti Glowstick Cloth/rag Shoe lace Chewing gum Other Apple Orange Banana Other Drink bottles Cigarette packet Cigarette butt General Branded/logo Can tops Tent pegs Gas canister Silver paper Walkng 3 pole Camping gear Drink can Nappies Tissues Carboard drink carton Carboard cup Spoons and forks Camping gear Dog poo bags Plastig bags Food wrappers Milk carton Drink straw Drink stirrer Cups Bottle tops Drink bottles 2% 4% 12% Number of items found 8% 4% 5% 13% 5% 2% 6% 3% Bags (Including Supermarket) Bottels containers and drums - Drinks Bottels containers and drums - Cleaner Caps / Lids Crisp / Sweet / Lolly wrappers Cutlery / Trays / Straws / Cups Fishing net and Net pieces <50cm Lobster / Crab pots and tops Rope diameter >1cm Sting and cord diameter <1cm Shotgun cartridges 13/09/13 Llyn Glaslyn Strapping bands 13/09/13 Toys / Party Summit poppers to Llyn / Glaslyn Fireworks / Dummies 13/09/13 Traffic Summit cones 15/08/13 Plastic Summit pieces <2.5cm 15/08/13 Plastic Summit pieces >2.5cm to Clogwyn Station 15/08/13 Buoys Clogwyn station to Pen Ceunant Cafe Gloves (heavy duty) Rubber pieces < 50cm Furnishings Sacking Drink cans Woodpieces (not twigs etc.) Glass pieces Bucket Sponge Dingy Boat Wax 0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Where next? Fruit peel, attitudes to litter and littering, economics of plastic bottles Behaviour change interventions develop simple messages for each audience Project with Marine Conservation Society on litter mobility - from mountain top to the sea Using survey and survey results to spread messages and effect change Engaging directly with activity leaders and charity/challenge organisers
Snowdon Tidy initiative - picking up the pieces on Snowdon Diolch yn fawr John Harold Cymdeithas Eryri the Snowdonia Society