Volunteers have recorded finding less litter in this year’s Plasticblitz across the UK compared to last year, despite groups spending more time litter picking in 2024 than 2023, according to environmental charity Thames21.
The charity, which led the organisation of the mass clean-up, in partnership with the Environment Agency and Rotary, saw a record number of hours spent cleaning up rivers. Teams across the UK clocked over 149 hours of litter picking and citizen science – a 12% increase from the previous year. A total of 466 bin bags worth of litter were collected this year, compared to around 699 bags last year. Plasticblitz 2024 (22nd June to 7th July) also saw a higher number of organised litter picks – 54 in total, of which 21 were based in London*.
The Plasticblitz, which first launched in 2021, engages community groups, Rotary Clubs and Environment Agency teams in a mass litter pick and citizen science event. Its key aim is to collect data on the most common plastic items found in and round rivers to educate consumers and advocate for change in business and policy.
Of the 10,346 pieces of litter categorised by citizen scientists, 71% were recorded as plastic, with plastic food packets and wrappers making the top of the list, followed by plastic/polystyrene pieces and cigarette ends.
Chris Coode, CEO at Thames21, said: “It’s great to see the expansion of the Plasticblitz and the way it brings communities together to tackle plastic pollution, which should have no place in our rivers or natural environment. Together, we are making significant progress in clearing plastic from the UK’s rivers.
“While it is difficult to pinpoint an exact reason why Plasticblitz teams have found less litter in and around rivers this year, we hope this can be attributed to increased community action and better awareness of rivers and their health.”
Besides the usual litter documented, Plasticblitz volunteers often find quirky and interesting items lost in rivers. This year’s unusual findings included a plastic inflatable crocodile and a wooden mask. Previous Plasticblitz events have also recorded a plastic crocodile head, motorbike, caravan, and even animal bones spotted in the water.
Maria Herlihy, Waterways Manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Cleaning up rivers requires action from everyone, and it’s really positive to hear that less litter was collected compared with previous years. Environment Agency staff were happy to take part, and we hope that results are even better next year.”
Philip Fletcher, District Environmental Officer at Rotary in the Thames Valley, said: “Before teaming up with Thames21, we held a river clean-up in October 2021, at which we collected a huge amount of rubbish, including inflatable boats, canvass, chairs, etc. At the first Plasticblitz held in Henley-on-Thames that we were involved in, we collected a child’s slide, a lorry wheel, tyre and a huge quantity of cigarette butts. At the 2024 Plasticblitz, there was very little strange rubbish collected and less cigarette butts. We would like to think this reduction is due to our and others efforts of spreading awareness of the problem of plastic waste being dumped into our watercourses.”
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest issues facing our rivers, and therefore the ocean, as rivers act as corridors connecting inland and the coast. Around 80% of plastic waste found in the ocean is first carried through rivers and streams. This threatens freshwater and marine wildlife through ingestion and entanglement and slowly breaks down into microplastics that can work their way into the food chain.
As the second top plastic-polluting country in the world, the UK needs to urgently ramp up its efforts to reduce its use of single use plastic. No one single tool will fix this pervasive plastic pollution issue. Thames21 is calling on plastic manufacturers to improve their packaging design and reduce their production of plastic, whilst urging policymakers to introduce legislation to facilitate the latter and encouraging consumers to play their part in disposing of their waste correctly.
New groups and volunteers are welcome to join the Plasticblitz in 2025 to contribute as citizen scientists gathering data on plastic pollution in their local areas.
