61 bottles, 21 fast food containers, 96 crisp and sweet packets, 47 shopping bags, 8 face masks, a car tyre and a bike. That’s just some of what the University of Cambridge’s Sustainability Team found in a couple of hours picking litter in the area near their office earlier this year. You too can make a difference by joining one of the University’s upcoming litter picks.

Many people are conscious of the problem of plastic waste in the oceans and its shocking impacts on marine wildlife. Many are less aware that 80% of this plastic waste reaches the oceans from our use on land, and travels to the oceans via rivers. This is a global problem, but affects UK and European waters. Images of rivers choked with plastic in far-flung parts of the world can be truly shocking, but inputs from European rivers are significant and also need urgent action.

Clare Whitelegg from the Rivers Trust is from the Preventing Plastic Pollution project:

“More scientific data on litter in river systems is desperately needed so we can work towards change. On the Preventing Plastic Pollution Project, two university teams and 16 other organisations are working to collate and study data on litter as a source of plastic pollution entering eight rivers in England and France.

In the Great Ouse river catchment (which includes the River Cam), the Rivers Trust are working with multiple local and community partners, including community groups, to measure the plastic litter entering rivers by collecting data from community litter picks. One of these partners is the Cambridge University Sustainability Team. We are pleased to be working together on this and collecting data on litter in Cambridge.”

As Peter Lumb, Environmental Coordinator for the University, says:

“We've taken lots of action on our own estate towards our vision of ‘outstanding environmental sustainability performance’, but as a globally-influential organisation it’s important that we maximise the positive impact of our actions by looking at local, national and international issues too.

Litter is something which might just seem like a blight on the local environment, but with the River Cam on our doorstep we know it could be contributing to marine pollution too. That’s why, linked to our own targets to cut the waste we create, we’re also helping staff remove it from our local environment, and working with the Rivers Trust on the important Preventing Plastic Pollution project to better understand the wider impacts of this issue.”

What can you do?

We know that littering is a significant cause of plastic in our rivers and oceans, which is why it’s so important to spread the word that we need to avoid it as much as possible! This is especially important as we head off on summer holidays, or start to return to University sites at the start of the new term.

Here are some key actions anyone can take to reduce this impact:

• Use reusables and refill where you can! An easy one is to get in the habit of bringing a KeepCup or water bottle with you when you leave home – most outlets now offer a KeepCup discount! For picnics and lunches, wax wraps or tupperwares can go a long way to reducing litter, while fruit comes in its own natural biodegradable wrapping!
• Take rubbish home with you. Put it in your picnic bag or backpack and take it home with you to dispose of properly. Treasure those beautiful natural areas you are visiting and ‘Leave only footprints’. This will protect your area and our ocean wildlife by reducing the amount of plastic ultimately entering the ocean. This includes taking away dog waste.
• As a next best, put plastic waste into a nearby bin. It is important that waste goes fully into the bin. If litter is left next to a full or overflowing bin, it may not be collected for a while, increasing the risk of it blowing away and ending up in the river. If the bin is full find another bin, take the litter home with you and, if you can, report the issue to the bin’s owner to ensure it’s emptied promptly.

Getting involved this academic year

As part of the University’s ongoing work with the Rivers Trust, we’ll be running a series of litter picks over the coming academic year. Sign up to these and you’ll not only be making a valuable positive impact on your local environment, but you’ll also be contributing to the important research under the Preventing Plastic Pollution project. If you’re taking part in Green Impact this year, taking part could even get you points towards your award!

• Sidgwick site litter pick, 16 November (am)
• West Cambridge site litter pick, 16 November (pm)
• Downing site litter pick, 2 March 2022 (am)
• Cambridge Biomedical Campus litter pick, 2 March 2022 (pm)