Beach clean-up kits to be gifted to every parish

Tuesday 14 February 2023

Beaches across the island will soon have their very own clean-up kits thanks to a new partnership.

With funding from the Co-op Community Fund, Plastic Free Jersey has created 12 Community Beach Clean Boxes, with one being gifted to every parish next week.

Each Community Beach Clean Box contains the basics islanders need to carry out a beach clean: bags and buckets to collect rubbish, gloves in a variety of sizes, a simple first aid kit, hand sanitiser, and a sharps box, as well as guidance on how to carry out a successful beach clean.

To celebrate the launch of the new initiative, there will be a beach clean event at 10:00 this Sunday 19 February starting on the beach below the La Mare car park in St. Clement.

If you can't make the launch event, the Community Beach Clean Boxes will be available every day from your parish hall for all members of the local community to use; schools, businesses, community groups, family groups and friends.

Pictured: The box includes all the basics you’ll need to carry out a successful beach clean.

Although named ‘beach’ clean boxes, the hope is that these will be used for a much wider purpose by the community and help to clear beaches, streets, parks, school grounds, country lanes, woodland wanders and coastal paths.

Plastic Free Jersey founding member, Sheena Brockie, said: “We are grateful to the Co-op Community Fund for their support with this exciting initiative. With a ready-made kit, easily accessible from the local parish hall, we would love for the community to rally around and work together to help keep Jerseys countryside and beaches free from litter, especially the single use plastics which are so prevalent.

"By encouraging people to get involved with a beach clean in their parish, we aim to raise awareness of the impact of plastic pollution on the local environment, empower people with the tools to do something about it, whilst fostering a sense of community and belonging.

"Please contact your parish hall to request to borrow the Community Beach Clean Box, and don’t forget to tag Plastic Free Jersey with any photos on social media!” 

Pictured: Constable of St Helier, Simon Crowcroft (centre) celebrated the launch of the boxes.

Carl Winn, Head of Community and Sustainability at the Channel Islands Co-operative Society said: "The Co-op Community Fund is all about giving support to projects – large or small – which echo our values around our island community or environment. This Community Beach Clean Box scheme aligned so much with our passion for protecting our island’s environment, plus, it is such an accessible and ingenious way of allowing us all to play our part in caring for our beaches.

"We truly are proud to be supporting this brilliant initiative from Plastic Free Jersey."