Getting a grip on litter: a charity`s perspective

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
Monitro Ymwelwyr PCE 2013 - Cymhariaeth o
holl lwybrau'r ucheldir
SNP Visitor Monitoring 2013 - All upland paths
annual comparison
350000
300000
250000
200000
150000
449327
100000
50000
123192
49240
0
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
Miscellaneous
Clothi Cigare
Fruit skins
ng
tte Glass and cores
Metals
Paper
Plastics
Surveys
Number of items found
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 pole
31%
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
Bags (Including Supermarket)
Bottels containers and drums - Drinks
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
Bottels containers and drums - Cleaner
1%
Caps / Lids
1%
2%
Crisp / Sweet / Lolly wrappers
8%
4%
Cutlery / Trays / Straws / Cups
4%
1%
Fishing net and Net pieces <50cm
Lobster / Crab pots and tops
Rope diameter >1cm
5%
Sting and cord diameter <1cm
Shotgun cartridges
13/09/13 Llyn Glaslyn
Strapping bands
13/09/13
Summit
to Llyn/ Glaslyn
Toys / Party
poppers
Fireworks / Dummies
13/09/13
Traffic Summit
cones
13%
15/08/13
Plastic Summit
pieces <2.5cm
Plastic Summit
pieces >2.5cm
15/08/13
to Clogwyn Station
Buoys Clogwyn station to Pen Ceunant Cafe
15/08/13
Gloves (heavy duty)
Rubber pieces < 50cm
5%
Furnishings
Sacking
2%
6%
1%
1%
Drink cans
Woodpieces (not twigs etc.)
Glass pieces
3%
12%
Bucket
1%
Sponge
1% 1%
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