This year’s Buy Nothing Day was celebrated with an organised litter pick led by Student Liaison Officer Kieran McCann and supported by Tidy Towns.
Fifteen volunteers helped to collect over 35 bags of rubbish along the Taff embankment in Grangetown and Riverside. In addition to general litter such as crisp packets, plastic bags and cans, volunteers also collected a bike, three chairs, a mop, carpet and umbrellas. A wallet containing a driving license and ID was also found and handed to the Police.
On one of the year’s busiest shopping days, ‘Buy Nothing Day’ asked people to stop shopping for a whole day. The day gave everyone a chance to step off the treadmill and really think about what we are consuming and the environmental consequences.
Councillor Judith Woodman, Executive Member for Communities said: “Buy Nothing Day highlights the environmental effects of consumption. Over the Festive Season we’ll throw away over 125,000 tonnes of plastic packaging, six million Christmas trees and 83 square km of wrapping paper. I would urge everyone to think about their about their consumption habits and consider recycling wherever possible.”
Kieran McCann, Student Liaison Officer said: “My sincere thanks to the volunteers who helped make this day such a success. We were shocked by the items discarded and the volume of rubbish which is evidence of how wasteful our society is.
“Spending a day without shopping allowed us to consider the environmental and aesthetic impacts that over-consumption and the waste produced has on our communities. Buy Nothing Day helped us to make a commitment to consuming less, recycling more and making more ethical and environmentally aware consumer choices.”
All equipment for the litter pick was provided by Tidy Towns who also gave a safety talk and arranged collection of the rubbish.
