Over 10,000 people in the West Midlands sign up for The Big Plastic Count - The Evesham Observer

Over 10,000 people in the West Midlands sign up for The Big Plastic Count

Evesham Editorial 16th May, 2022   0

OVER 10,000 people in the West Midlands have signed up for The Big Plastic Count, the UK’s biggest ever investigation into household plastic waste.

The count begins today (May 16), with Midlands participants including five MP’s and 105 teachers who will be taking part through their classes.

Schools, community groups, businesses and families will also be taking part nationwide.

In total, more than 140,000 people are planning on taking part from across the UK, with notable celebrities getting involved including Chris Packham, Joanna Lumley and Bonnie Wright.




Everyone who has signed up will record the different types of plastic packaging they throw away before submitting their results.

The project is a collaboration between Everyday Plastic and Greenpeace UK.


The UK is currently second only to the USA in the amount of plastic waste produced per person, and in 2018 we generated 5.2million tonnes, which is enough to fill Wembley Stadium six times over.

Last year, Greenpeace’s Wasteminster viral animation revealed that Britain also exports vast amounts of plastic waste abroad.

The Big Plastic Count will examine how much plastic packaging is thrown away and what happens to it afterwards.

This project will aim to provide evidence that will show the government and supermarkets the need to tackle the issue.

A YouGov survey for Greenpeace UK found that 77% of people in the UK recycle their plastic products, but 75% don’t know what happens to their recycling once it is thrown away.

Chris Packham said: “Our broken recycling system doesn’t work so instead of dealing with our plastic waste ourselves, we send vast quantities of it overseas where it’s out of sight and out of mind for us, but destroying nature and harming people elsewhere.

“The Big Plastic Count is such an exciting project.

“It will, for the first time, tell ordinary people what happens to their plastic waste after we throw it away, and we hope it will force the government to take action and address the plastic waste crisis.”

Everyday Plastics Daniel Webb added: “I decided to count all of my plastic waste for a whole year back in 2017. Doing so helped me to understand my plastic footprint, which completely shocked me and drove me to begin campaigning for change.

“The results from The Big Plastic Count will show us what’s happening to our plastic waste, on a national scale, and inspire thousands of participants to demand real action to stem the tide of plastic packaging.”

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