• Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • The UK Ports Industry
    • Port Skills and Safety
    • British Ports Association
    • Other Partner Organisations
  • Policies
    • Safety
    • Environment
    • Local communities
    • Developing skills
    • EU
    • Working with Devolved Administrations
    • Road and Rail Links to Ports
  • Ports
  • News
    • UKMPG News
    • Members News
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Members
    • Log In
    • Log Out

UK Major Ports Group

UK Major Ports

Ports are taking real action to combat plastic waste

September 13, 2019 by Lianne Stephens

PLA Plastic Bag PosterTo mark the environment day of London International Shipping Week ports are sharing some of the huge range of things they’re doing to combat plastic waste entering our rivers and seas.

The scourge of plastic waste entering rivers and seas is rightly a top concern for the public and policy makers. We all – businesses and consumers alike – have a duty to act and change our behaviours. The UK’s ports, although not significant producers of plastic waste themselves, recognise they have a role to play and are taking action.

Ports are busy working on land and in the water to reduce plastic waste across a wide range of activities, both large and small. Examples include:

  • Joining national campaigns such as Operation Clean Sweep, focused on preventing plastic pellet loss to the marine environment;
  • Working with others locally, both through local campaigns such as the Port of London Authorities’ Cleaner Thames Campaign and working in partnership with local NGOs like Plastic Free Felixstowe;
  • Investing in equipment to capture waste in the water such as Water Witches, Seabins and networks of driftwood and floating waste collectors;
  • Reducing and removing single use plastics as part of company procurement decisions in areas such as work wear and consumables; and
  • Getting everyone involved through organizing and supporting beach and shore cleans, handing out reusable cups and bottles and using milk bottles for teas and coffees!

ABPPorts commitment to reducing marine plastic waste doesn’t end with prevention and collection. A number of port operators have full life cycle initiatives – such as returning collected plastic waste to manufacturers to remake into shampoo bottles! And their efforts to reduce waste are not limited to plastics. Ports have strategies and plans to combat waste more generally, making progress on targets to reduce waste to landfill.

Tim Morris, CEO of the UK Major Ports Group, said: “Major port operators are committed to high sustainability standards. Ports all around the UK are taking a huge range of practical actions to combat the scourge of plastic waste entering rivers and seas. We all have a role in reducing plastic waste and ports, despite not being significant producers of plastic waste themselves, are playing their part.”

To learn more contact:

Tim Morris, Chief Executive, UK Major Ports Group

Tel: 07387 091 407

Email: Tim.Morris@ukmajorports.org.uk

Filed Under: News

Sign Up For Updates

Add your email address to be notified whenever we post news updates.

Events

February 2021
MTWTFSS
« Jan   Mar »
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Recent News

Commitment to Sustainable Freeports

Commitment to Sustainable Freeports

January 18, 2021 By Lianne Stephens

BLOG: Five Trends for UK Ports in 2021

BLOG: Five Trends for UK Ports in 2021

January 13, 2021 By Lianne Stephens

UK Major Ports Group comments on current COVID-19 border congestion

December 21, 2020 By Lianne Stephens

UK Major Ports Group responds to demands for an inquiry about port congestion

UK Major Ports Group responds to demands for an inquiry about port congestion

December 17, 2020 By Lianne Stephens

About UK Major Ports Group

The United Kingdom Major Ports Group Ltd (UKMPG) was formed in 1993 and is the trade association representing most of the larger commercial ports in the United Kingdom. It has nine members who, between them, own and operate over 40 ports, accounting for more than 70% of the total tonnage handled in UK ports. … Continue Reading

Latest Tweets

  • Ports work hard to reduce emissions but face major investment obstacles and Government has a vital role in supporti… https://t.co/6KfQYIXF1w Yesterday at 12:00 pm
  • Ports work hard to reduce emissions but face major investment obstacles and Government has a vital role in supporti… https://t.co/x7Ig2twakr Yesterday at 12:00 pm
  • Freeports should be a chance to strengthen UK trade capabilities & bring jobs to coastal communities. But the need… https://t.co/BUvHEJri1e February 24, 2021 12:00 pm
  • With just under two weeks to go before #Budget2021, what do you think is the most important thing the Chancellor co… https://t.co/v2fSz17pYi February 18, 2021 9:48 am
  • Follow us on Twitter

Contact Us

UK Major Ports Group
1st Floor
30 Park Street
London
SE1 9EQ

Tel. +44 (0) 20 7260 1785

Copyright © 2021 · UK Major Ports Group · Built by Blue Pie Media

This site uses cookies: Find out more.