We need to reduce our plastic litter. I have been shocked to discover how much plastic is damaging us, nature and our environment. Every breath I take, as I walk through Macclesfield, I am inhaling microplastics which put me at increased risk of cancers, lung disease or air-borne diseases. And of course it isn’t just me, or you, facing this risk. The same is true for our pets, wild animals, fish, birds, plants, trees. For other species it isn’t just the risk from ingesting particles – many are also dying from entanglement with plastic bags, ropes and other rubbish.
Our roads, rivers, pools and parks are all littered with plastic bags, cups and containers.
And locally it’s not just plastics littering our neighbourhood. Macclesfield can be beautiful, but not when you are having to walk round, or in some cases wade through, carelessly-dropped rubbish.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be like this. We in the Green Party are working with communities in Cheshire East to reduce single use plastic (like coffee cups or take away containers), and to keep our streets clear of litter.
What can you do?
Some of this work is with the council. For example we recently got kerbside recycling reinstated in Highfield Road. This Saturday, 19th July, we’ll be clearing litter in and around South Park (and at locations in other towns). Would you join us? Come along to South Park Car Park, Park Grove, for 10.00. Bring your own gloves, but we will supply litter bags!
Why this weekend? It’s the People vs Plastic National Day of Action – protests will be held across the UK to call for the end to plastic pollution. What better way to protest that with something useful which can also help our communities?
See you on Saturday!
Text based on the Green Party’s “Talking Politics” column in the Macclesfield Express