Article Source: Paws On Plastic
First Published: 10 June 2020 11:31
Updated: 10 June 2020 11:34
Founded in Stonehaven in November 2018 by Primary School Teacher, Marion Montgomery, PAWS on PLASTIC, invites dog owners to pick up 2 pieces of plastic while out walking their beloved hounds.
The inspiration came from dogs who were always picking up plastic bottles. Once your dog is playing with a bottle, it’s your responsibility to put it in a bin. So many dog owners have been doing this without thinking about it. It’s like our dogs have been trying to tell us to do this for years and now, with the increasing awareness of the dangers of plastic pollution, we’re finally catching on!
The strength of Paws on Plastic is its simplicity, says Marion: “Dog owners are already out there walking their dogs every day. We see the litter. We have a spare bag in our pocket & it just takes a second to pick up a couple of pieces. No extra time or effort is required yet if we all do our own wee bit, with over 16,500 of us (on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) that’s over 66,000 pieces a day, (based on an average of 2 pieces on 2 daily walks) or 24 MILLION pieces a year although, as you will see from posts on Facebook, most people pick up more than 2 pieces each as it is rather addictive!”
With around 9 million dogs in the UK alone, imagine the impact if we all did our own small bit.
The instructions are simple: Members pick items up using a spare poo bag and take it home to empty, into a recycling bin if possible, saving the bag to use again, then post a lovely photo of theirdog on our “Paws on Plastic” FaceBook Page to celebrate their efforts and spread the word.
Despite the current situation, membership is rising at a fantastic rate as litter increases as Lockdown eases. We are welcoming members to our main Facebook group from all over the world...in fact from 80 countries, covering all continents except Antarctica!
We are delighted to collaborate with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Britain Tidy, 2 Minute Beach Clean and Surfers against Sewage and will be working closely together on campaigns focussed on litter and encouraging responsible dog ownership.
To join us, look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/344123186321129/
Twitter: @pawsonplastic or Instagram.
Members are responsible for keeping themselves & any accompanying companions safe. All pieces picked up are helping to reduce the amount of plastic ending up in the sea.
Is your dog trying to tell you something? Isn’t it time we all listened?
Although many of us stopped picking up litter in March due to contamination concerns, we are needed more than ever as things start to open up again. The increase in litter at this time only continues.
Scotland's biggest staycation event, The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show, is going online for 2021 in a free virtual event!
With over 10,000 festival passes already sold, 44 countries from around the world will be tuning in to tonight's Celtic Connections Opening Concert!
Edinburgh’s award-winning Wedgwood the Restaurant is the first restaurant in the UK to launch a ‘Burns Box’, available nationwide, to celebrate Burns Night (25th January) in lockdown.
Glasgow Philharmonia are well known for their big performances up and down the country... but for the first time ever, they have released a charity single!
Specialist charity SBH Scotland is joining forces with international superstar Fran Healy, as well as Scottish comedians Janey Godley & Fred MacAulay to host the world's biggest virtual Burns supper!
The Celtic Connections online festival will begin one week today. Across 19 days, the festival will present over 30 online performances between 15th January and 2nd February!
Local residents are being asked to donate broken or unwanted mobile phones, tablets and laptops for an innovative project at Strathclyde Country Park.
A campaign to encourage residents to use the area's parks and greenspaces during the current coronavirus restrictions has launched.
Brisbane Observatory, Govanhill Baths and The Ridge Foundations CIC are among the latest round of Historic Environment Support Fund recipients!
Gather the family around the TV this Christmas and join in the usual fun and frolics of a Pavilion Panto!
In light of the new Tier restrictions, the Scottish company behind one of the UK's largest drive-in tours, The Parking Lot Social, has been forced to cancel all dates in Scotland for the rest of 2020.
Rapunzel, the innovative new festive film from the National Theatre of Scotland, created in a first-time partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, is set to hit screens this month!
With Christmas just around the corner, Flip Out is set to transform into a winter wonderland to get people into the festive spirit!
Newly renamed leisure destination XSite Braehead has announced that 90 per cent of its offering will be reopening just in time for Christmas!
A Scottish literature charity this week publishes an anthology of poetry that gives voice to some of Scotland's unheard groups and voices.
Strathaven Park has once again been voted the number one park in Scotland!
Nature-inspired photography competition winners announced by Loch Lomond Shores.
Launching on December 14th, ‘Adventure To Your Desktop’ is a five-day online festival bringing to life the best of Scotland, through how-tos, cook-alongs and masterclasses from Scottish talent.
Dance Base Scotland present a night of performance, movement and celebration, all filmed from their studios in Edinburgh and streamed to audiences across the world.
Associated community trusts and SPFL clubs across Scotland are bringing Christmas cheer to those that need it most this year with a new-look initiative designed to support isolated older people.
The popular Braehead leisure destination, formerly known as Soar Braehead, has culminated its four-week rebrand project by unveiling its new name, XSite Braehead!
itison launch their annual Social Bite fundraiser, donate £5 to buy a meal for the homeless.
Quarriers has launched its annual Box of Hope Appeal to support homeless young people this winter.
Celtic Connections has announced the first list of artists who will perform as part of their digital-first festival this January!
Dobbies, the UK's leading garden centre retailer, has brought forward its official 'Bring your Christmas Tree Home Day' to December 5th as the public get into the Christmas spirit earlier than normal!
The artistic talents of two people supported by Quarriers are being displayed on the charity's Christmas card for 2020.
Four new dates have been added to this year's Drive In Movies Christmas following huge demand!
Judges have selected the winners of Lanark Young People's Photo Challenge which took place this autumn as part of the wider Lanark Vision 2020 – 2030 Public Consultation.
Graham's The Family Dairy supports Scottish restaurants and the hospitality industry by launching an online Christmas Gift competition!
Disney's beloved Olivier Award-winning stage musical Beauty and the Beast is heading out on a UK & Ireland Tour in 2021 which will include a 5 week run at The Edinburgh Playhouse!