Press release embargoed until 00.01am, Thursday 30th August 2018
B O AT B U I LT W I T H P L A S T I C W A S T E S E T S S A I L T O TA C K L E I N C R E A S I N G PLASTIC LITTERING PROBLEM IN U K W AT E R W AY S Thursday 30 August: Environmental charity Hubbub is today launching “PET project” - one of only two boats in the world made from 99% plastic waste – from Richmond Bridge Boathouses in London to raise awareness of the growing levels of plastic pollution in Britain’s waterways. Funded equally by the Starbucks 5p paper cup charge and Tideway, which is building the super sewer under London to help stop sewage and litter pollution in the River Thames, ‘PET Project’ is made from recycled single-use plastic. This most modern of materials, also called ‘Plaswood’, is a recycled plastic material that is used as a substitute for wood. As part of this project, Tideway volunteers collected a tonne of plastic waste from the River Thames, which will be sent to the Plaswood factory in Dumfries, Scotland. ‘PET Project’ will be used to raise awareness of plastic pollution in our waterways and oceans and to educate local schoolchildren and businesses about this issue through hands-on ‘Plastic Fishing’ trips on the boat, with the City Bridge Trust providing funding for local schools to go out plastic fishing. The 12-seater punt has been built by expert boat builder Mark Edwards MBE who also built The Queen’s barge ‘The Gloriana’ and Hubbub’s first boat, ‘Poly-Mer’, which has been collecting plastic waste at London’s Docklands since its launch last year1. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Thérèse Coffey will officially launch the boat ahead of its maiden voyage with passengers including local girl guides and people from the rowing community. Following its launch, ‘PET Project’ will be moored at Richmond Bridge Boathouses where plastic fishing trips will set off from. With each trip, the boat will help remove more plastic debris from the river Thames, which will then be recycled and go towards making further boats with the same aim. Gavin Ellis, Co-founder and Director of Hubbub said: “It’s fantastic to see that people have woken up to the problem of plastic pollution in our waterways and the terrible impact it has on our environment. 80% of ocean plastic comes from land. Litter travels from our hand and ends up in our rivers and oceans where it is broken down and being eaten by and harming wildlife. However, while our awareness has grown, the amount of litter entering our waterways is still increasing.