Support urged for participation in biggest ever UK plastic count

Organised by Greenpeace UK and Everyday Plastics, The Big Plastic Count will take place from March 11 to 17 and create the biggest national dataset providing new insights into the UK’s plastic pollution problem.

Single-use plastic packaging is a major contributor to the plastic pollution that is having a devastating impact on our planet. According to the UN environment programme in the early 2000s, the amount of plastic waste generated rose more in a single decade than it had in the previous 40 years. Almost 250,000 participants took part in the first Big Plastic Count in 2022, which found that UK households throw away nearly two billion pieces of plastic packaging every week. This year’s survey is particularly vital as the final year of global talks for a United Nations global plastics treaty take place. Martyn Day said: “We have all seen programmes such as Blue Planet II which highlight the devastating impact single-use plastic is having on our planet. “Having taken part last year, I know exactly how powerful this investigation can be in helping to understand the true extent of the plastic problem. I would encourage as many people as possible to sign up. The more people that take part, the more insight we can gather into the UK's plastic usage and our impact on the environment. “ For more information and to sign up visit https://thebigplasticcount.com/ Participants need to register by March 11 to receive all the material needed to take part.