By Marion Montgomery
Enthusiastic Stonehaven residents of all ages have been turning out to monthly community beach cleans since February 2023 with totals of waste removed now topping 1,000 kgs.
Run by the community group PLASTIC FREE STONEHAVEN and local Stonehaven based charity PAWS ON PLASTIC SCO51306 since February 2023, the beach cleans along with other special cleans run for local schools, youth and community groups and organisations have proved extremely popular with 30-40 volunteers regularly turning out, registering a total of 917 volunteer hours and removing over 1,000 kgs of waste in total.
A young volunteer beach clean reward card established in February this year has proved very popular with several young volunteers having earned certificates and working towards further rewards. It’s fantastic to see their enthusiasm!
Says Paws on Plastic Founder/Chair and Plastic Free Stonehaven Lead, Marion Montgomery, “The support from all parts of the Stonehaven community has been just incredible, from young children coming along with their families, groups of friends of all ages, to our fantastic local businesses, our schools and community groups and organisations. It’s been amazing to feel the support and we can’t thank them enough. A huge thanks also goes to our fantastic steering group made up of Aberdeenshire Council representatives, local councillors, the Stonehaven Business Association, Stonehaven Town Partnership, Stonehaven & District Community Council, Stonehaven Horizon Group and the Men’s Shed.’
Plastic Free Stonehaven achieved ‘plastic free’ status from SURFERS AGAINST SEWAGE through the Plastic Free Communities Programme in July this year with 9 local independent Stonehaven businesses, GODSMAN GRAPHICS, HOW BIZARRE HOW BIZARRE, MY BEAUTIFUL CARAVAN, LOU SELLS PRELOVED LABELS, REPLENISH, BAYVIEW APARTMENTS, CARMA, FOUNTAINHALL WINES & BEAUTY 53 having been awarded as Plastic Free Champion businesses with BEAUTY 53 having achieved the SILVER award. Another 8 local businesses are currently working towards the award, looking for ways to reduce their use of single use plastic items, many of which have the advantage of also reducing their business costs.
The aim of seeking to achieve Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Community status was an idea being pursued by the Stonehaven and Lower Deeside Councillor, Sarah Dickinson. She approached and invited Marion Montgomery to lead the campaign. The third team member, Fiona Basford, was welcomed in early 2023.
The Plastic Free Communities Programme has encouraged all sectors of the Stonehaven to look for ways to reduce their use of single use plastics and to remove waste from the beach and other areas of the community.
Paws on Plastic encourages dog owners to pick up a few bits of litter on their daily walks to protect animals, communities and the environment and the charity also educates on the consequences of litter.
