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Plastic Free Thanet aims to stop single-use plastic on our streets and beaches. We do this through collaborating with Thanet District Council, local businesses and community groups as well as joining with campaigns including Rise Up Clean Up, Surfers Against Sewage, and Refill Revolution.
Plastic Free Thanet
Plastic Free Thanet is a community-led campaign to stop single-use plastic on our streets and beaches.
In conjunction with local businesses we have:
- developed a cup bank scheme that will provide reusable cups to local coffee shops, events and festivals
- started an information sharing network for businesses to reduce plastic waste in the supply chain
- continued to support businesses and organisations to understand and implement the new legislation on single-use plastics
Find out more and get involved below!
About Plastic Free Thanet
Plastic Free Thanet aims to reduce single-use plastic across Thanet, working with local businesses and community groups.
In partnership with Oast and Rise Up Clean Up, in June 2024 we launched The Margate Cup reusable coffee cup and a #choosetoreuse discount scheme. See more on our campaign page.
We're using the Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Communities model to bring everyone on board.
Reducing the amount of plastic we use is a tangible action individuals and businesses can take and a powerful way to engage people in conversations on this, and wider environmental issues.
Read more about how we got started during Plastic Free July in the Isle of Thanet News and keep reading for what you can do locally below.
As well as helping to keep Thanet's beaches and waterways cleaner, we hope the campaign will raise environmental awareness and increase environmental action among businesses and individuals.
Plastic Free Thanet is made up of Plastic Free Margate, Plastic Free Minster, Plastic Free Broadstairs and Plastic Free Ramsgate. Meet the team.
What can my business do?
- Join our reusable coffee cup scheme or fill in our business survey to let us know how we can tailor our support to you.
- Join a local beach clean or do one of your own - the Million Mile Clean site has tips and resources.
- Become a Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Champion by removing three items of single use plastic from your business offer. (We can help, get in touch.)
- Become a Refill station to show customers you care (you'll get a window sticker and be added to the award-winning Refill app).
- Subscribe to our newsletter to receive tips, news and updates on activity in Thanet.
What can individuals do?
- Get yourself a Margate Cup (or use your own reusable cup) to get discounted drinks in Margate (coming soon to other areas).
- Join a local beach clean with Rise Up Clean Up or another group in your area - if you can't find a group, start one! (The Million Mile Clean site has tips and resources.)
- Subscribe to our newsletter to receive tips, news and updates on activity in Thanet.
- See City to Sea's 12 Ways to reduce plastic pollution and get your Surfers Against Sewage's Plastic Free Communities individual action plan.
- Be part of the Refill Revolution and be sure to reuse and refill as much as possible.
About the issue
Single-use plastic is a huge environmental problem and nowhere is this more apparent than along our coastlines.
In Margate alone, litter picking action group Rise Up, Clean Up removed 3000kg of plastic waste and rubbish from our beaches over a year and a report from Thanet District Council's coastal waste review working party showed that clean up efforts costing £186,000 in 2021 were still not enough to stem the tide of waste.
"Cleaning up isn't enough to solve the problem. We need to turn off the plastic tap."
Plastic is difficult to recycle (only about 9% of plastic actually gets recycled), ends up in our waterways, harms wildlife and damages our own health. It's also a large and growing contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions that are warming our planet, leading to extreme weather and rising ocean levels.
Further information
- Plastic is part of the wider climate and biodiversity emergencies, find out more on the Thanet Council website.
- Understanding the extent of these crises can lead to eco-anxiety - the Climate Psychology Alliance has some helpful FAQs and resources.
- Thanks to Sea Changers and Kent Community Foundation for making this work possible.
