I would just like to put a thought to everyone: yes there are parking problems in Military Road; there are too many cars in the town; the invasion of Ukraine needs our action and the rise of prices and poverty is a result; the ridiculous drawn out choosing of a new PM, (both of whom defended the previous PM’s policies) are all problems we have to watch unfold and deal with. But, going to the beach, especially at this time of the year, people may still forget about the damage created by leaving plastic items which are swept into the sea.
As Strandliners warn us: “Eight million tonnes of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year, one bin lorry load a minute, 53 billion nurdles (tiny plastics all other plastics are made from), toxic bio beads enter the marine environment each year and the plastic in our seas is there for keeps.”
What can we do as individuals? Not buy a single use plastic bottle. Do an audit for a week in the home, school or workplace of all the plastic used. It will be a surprising exercise to see just how much we use unconsciously. We need to suggest to manufacturers and stores to stop putting everything into plastic bags. Why, for instance, are the Fairtrade bananas in plastic but not the others? Use two different boxes, well labelled, no plastic needed.
In addition, is the need to look at what is happening re the climate crises which is real especially having seen the fires; the evaporating water and the heat; after listening to scientists who are warning that changes are needed now, and calling for government to invest and reduce pollution. It is interesting that both candidates fighting to be PM say very little about what they would do to tackle the climate promises they made at the various global meetings. Before lockdown young people spoke up, marched, fought to be heard, as they realised they will be the next generation to tackle the problems, and now, it seems to have taken a backseat. Yes we did have a lockdown, but that should have been used by government as a planning time, coming up with a strategy.
There is one positive example some of us can follow. People who do a lot or a little e-commerce, buying from various companies who have to deliver, can now chose a better system: delivery to a parcel shop or locker and not to home. Car deliveries to each home increases traffic, congestion and CO2 emissions. 
The carbon footprint for delivering to a parcel shop or locker, which many companies now suggest, is approximately15-30% CO2 per parcel, versus 150-300% CO2 per parcel home delivery. This is based on 600 parcels over a 70 km route per day according to the Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering Politecnico di Milan 2016, Economic and Environmental assessment.
Self pick up is not easy for everyone but in Rye we have two shops where parcels are delivered to:Â Costcutter Murco 74 Fishmarket Road TN31 7LP and Tilling Green Convenience Store (01797 224 536), a few minutes from the Tilling Green Community Centre.
Image Credits: Tumisu / Pixabay https://pixabay.com/illustrations/climate-change-global-warming-2063240 Pixabay https://pixabay.com/service/license/, Andy Dinsdale .
Thank you, Heidi, especially for the last paragraph giving the pick-up locations. I haven’t yet used it, but there’s also an Amazon collection point in the station car park.
Patrick, I didn’t know that but am boycotting Amazon. I got scammed after all these years, first time.
So anyone please watch out.
Luckily I was quick enough for Bank to follow up and though money was taken from bank they repaid it. PHEW.