Bangor University is proud to be working with Trash Free Trails to deliver an innovative two-year research project to reduce litter and single use pollution.
Litter has become a hot topic in the marine environment and beach cleans have become a valuable tool for raising awareness and generating data on the sources of pollution in our seas.
That’s why Trash Free Trails, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to bring the ‘beach clean mentality’ to our beautiful inland wild spaces, have teamed up with Bangor University to address some of these important knowledge gaps.
Surprisingly little is known about why people litter, and even less is known about the ecological impacts of doing so.
There are questions we all desperately need answers to, especially as we tentatively leave behind the restrictions of the pandemic and we all look to our wonderful local wild spaces for socialising, exercise, and relaxation. These include, why do the very people who travel to enjoy wild spaces then drop litter? What are the ecological impacts of littering? And how can we help people feel more connected to our wonderful parks, hillsides, forests, and coastal trails to encourage changes in behaviour?
To launch the Bangor University/Trash Free Trails academic partnership, the University and Trash Free Trails hosted the first State of Our Trails Summit held at the University’s own M-SParc Science Park, making use of the outdoor courtyard space and the café; itself recently achieving zero-plastic status!
The interactive conference attracted representatives from Bosch eBike Systems, Natural Resources Wales, Snowdonia National Park, Trek Bikes, British Cycling, the National Trust, professional athletes and more as well as community ambassadors from Trash Free Trails and researchers from Bangor University.
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Posted On: 06/07/2021