Not-so fantastic plastic

What started as a company challenge has become a wider community clean-up as Plastic Free July comes to a close.

Some rubbish that's already accumulating at Maungatapu Bridge area.

Staff at Hikoi Mount Maunganui are taking part in Plastic Free July, which challenges participants to eliminate all single-use plastics in their lives for 30 days (and longer, if they can).

For every single-use plastic item they can't avoid however, is a strike against their name and for every strike they must collect 10 pieces of plastic from the beach at the end of the month.

After sharing their story with The Weekend Sun, Hikoi Mount Maunganui were contacted by a reader to inform them that there is a large collection of rubbish along the Maungatapu Bridge area.

Owner Brad Edwards says, 'I had it in my head I would walk from my home in Papamoa to the Mount and collect rubbish along the way but the lady who rang me inspired me to do a reconnaissance mission to Maungatapu and I found it to be clogged up with grotty plastic come in from the Harbour so I'm considering going there to do a pick up.

'Now I'm thinking of organising a community clean up and my next step is to find out how many people want to get involved?”

Brad will no doubt be cleaning up quite a few items come August, as his tally chart shows now over 60 strikes against his name. But he would challenge you to do better after 22 days of trying to avoid plastics.

'My wife came home with eight mini yoghurts for the kids the other day – I was like, ‘What did you buy those for?!' so that cost me a few hits.”

Would you like to get involved? To show your support and sign up for Hikoi's Big Plastic Clean Up, email Brad on info@hikoi.co.nz or leave a message on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/HikoiMountMaunganui

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