Sorting through the collected rubbish

From pollution to solution!

Strandliners’ popular ‘Love Our Rother’ event returned to Rye Community Centre on Saturday 17 February for a second outing, even better than before. This time focusing on solutions everyone can use to slow down the flow of waste and pollution. Beverley Combes writes.

Opened by Councillor Mrs Vikki Cook, Chair of Rother District Council and Gonzal Alvarez, Chair of the United Nations Association, Climate and Oceans, the event was buzzing from the beginning.

Andy Dinsdale, Gonzalo Alvarez and Cllr Mrs Vikki Cook

CEO of Strandliners, Andy Dinsdale said, “Last year’s event was so successful we had to come back in response to the demand for more innovative solutions – what people can actually do to reduce their impact on the environment. They recognise there’s a problem and are often frustrated at not knowing what’s out there.”

So, this year the Strandliners’ team brought together a range of stall-holders with one aim in mind – reducing waste and conserving resources – and to present their different ways of tackling this. Whether it’s through Reusing, Refilling, Upcycling, Repairing, Lending, Borrowing, Growing or Composting – it’s all contributing to zero-waste living, and ultimately decreasing carbon emissions and protecting the climate.

Strandliners held their ever-popular ‘live brand audit’ in the centre of the hall.  “There’s always tremendous interest in the beach and riverbank finds, the sheer variety of items, and people love to get sorting! Importantly, it’s an opportunity to explain how – and why – we record everything. It’s only through the surveys – identifying and analysing – and the data generated that we have any chance of lobbying for change.”

Collecting rubbish

There is a real groundswell of support in Rye, which is why Strandliners, and members of Rye Town Council and Rother District Council, chose the event to launch the Three Rivers project.

Cllr Sue Learoyd-Smith said, “It is to raise awareness about local river pollution and finding solutions. We wanted to do something practical to engage the public in cleaning up and surveying pollution along the Rother, Brede and Tillingham, and then set up a monitoring group to oversee the rivers’ health.”

They won’t be short of support. Over 100 enthusiastic and interested people filled the venue, visiting a variety of stands, taking part in activities, exchanging ideas and discovering how small changes, adopted collectively, can lead to greater environmental impact and sustainable results.

An inspiring event that encouraged everyone to share information, deepen their knowledge and, most of all, get involved!

If you missed the event and would like to learn more or volunteer please visit https://strandliners.org/

Groups taking part included Rother Environmental Group, Rother District Council, Rother Voluntary Action, Rye Community Food and Wildlife Garden, Sussex Greenways, RSPCA Mallydams Wood, Young Strandliners, Community Compost Solutions, the Kind Table, the Bucket & Spade Toy Library.

In the Southeast, Strandliners have been surveying for plastic pollution since 2012. Community and volunteering at its heart, it is unique in its approach of identifying and recording mismanaged waste, working with larger organisations such as the Marine Conservation Society, Break Free From Plastic, FIDRA and more who can lobby for change.

Also in: Campaigns