A STUDENT from Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School has won a special award for his work in tackling plastic pollution in Wotton under Edge.

Arthur Garrett, 14, who litter picked in and around the town throughout the coronavirus lockdown, has been recognised with a ‘Plastic Free Ally’ certificate.

He undertook the litter picking as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award volunteering challenge.

Over three months, from March to June, Arthur completed more than an hour’s litter-picking work every week around Wotton, taking care to use gloves and appropriate equipment.

Each week, he collected about half a black sack full of litter – mostly packaging that had been discarded along the side of the road or footpaths.

Much of the litter collected was plastic waste, which would otherwise have blighted the environment, causing risks to wildlife, polluting water, making the local area look unattractive and resulting in clean-up costs for public authorities.

Arthur said: “I was motivated to get involved in this litter-picking challenge to protect wildlife and clean up the environment around the area where I live.

"I was not expecting to find so much plastic litter: sweet and chocolate wrappers, crisp packets, yoghurt pots, plastic bottles, ice-pop packets and salad boxes, as well as lots of cigarette ends and polystyrene packaging.

"I’ve removed this rubbish from the road verges and streets – but there is still a lot more to do. The best thing would be for people not to drop litter in the first place."

Arthur’s litter-picking activity covered Nind Lane, Wortley Road, Hill Mill Lane, Old London Road, Bradley Street, Gloucester Street and Bournstream.

He was surprised to go back to some rural road verges that he had cleared to find more litter in the same location just a few weeks later.

“Litter is a big issue affecting the environment,” said Tina Le Coyte of the Wotton Area Climate Action Network (CAN).

“Many of us are keen to reduce single-use plastic in our lives.

"The first thing we can try and do is ‘choose to refuse’ plastic packaging.

"Where this isn’t possible, the correct disposal and recycling of plastic is the next important step.

"I’m delighted to recognise Arthur’s work as a ‘Plastic Free Ally’ and would encourage other young people to join him to ensure our local area stays litter free.”

Wotton Area CAN is working with Stroud District Action on Plastic, which recently achieved ‘Plastic Free Community’ status for Stroud District from the marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage, through engagement with residents, businesses and community groups, as well as local action to remove plastic from the environment.

The groups encourage people to refuse single-use plastic and find alternative plastic-free options, which are now often widely available.

Where that is not possible, they suggest that single-use plastic should be recycled to avoid creating new plastic, which is usually made from fossil fuels.

In September, there’s an opportunity for everyone to get involved with the Great British September Clean, organised by Keep Britain Tidy, which will be taking place nationally from 11-27 September, with an action day in Wotton on Sunday 27 September, supported by Wotton Lions and Wotton Area CAN.

To get involved in this socially distanced community clean up, email: WottonAreaCAN@gmail.com or see the website: www.WottonAreaCAN.org