The data our volunteers will collect using the litter survey methods they have learnt will help to encourage a positive change in people’s behaviour around plastic waste disposal, with less littering and more recycling.
During our online training sessions, volunteers learnt about the problems associated with plastics in rivers, including how animals may mistakenly perceive plastic to be food due to the smell and the way that macroplastics can fragment into smaller pieces that looks similar to food. Eventually plastic will break down to become microplastics which can easily be ingested by river and sea animals. We emphasised the importance of this project and how citizen science projects can empower many people to become change makers.
Volunteers then attended our practical training sessions in Salford and Liverpool to practice the survey methods and discuss important risk assessment procedures. Several volunteers have now been carrying out their first surveys and we are starting to get data on the different types and amounts of plastic in our rivers.
Read more here: https://www.thames21.org.uk/2021/10/citizen-science-volunteers-ready-to-contribute-to-our-plastic-free-mersey-project/
Want to get involved and help?
We are running another round of online and practical training sessions as follows:
The next online training session is on:
Monday 18th October: 7pm to 8.30pm
The next practical outdoor training sessions are on:
Friday 19th November: 1pm to 3pm (Liverpool City Region - venue to be confirmed)
Sunday 21st November: 10am to 12 noon (Kersal Wetlands, Salford)
Please email john@merseyrivers.org if you would like to get involved.
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