Local students encouraged to join crews in drowning out plastic pollution

Bottle Ships is an exciting and innovative new project by Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Norfolk County Council, through the FACET scheme, an Interreg 2Seas project funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The project will fund the creation of large ship shaped vessels specifically for the collection and recycling of plastic bottles in Great Yarmouth, Gorleston and Hemsby.

For phase one of the new public project, school children, college pupils and those part of community groups are being asked to join the fight against plastic pollution by collecting clean, empty drinks bottles which will be used to build a 'Bottle Ship'.

The 'Bottle Ship' will be made up of 800 empty, plastic bottles and will be put together by Hatty + Young in St George's Park during the town's 'Paint the Town' event next month. Three lucky schools in the area will also be given the chance to take part in constructing the vessel.

The official drop off point for those wanting to take part and donate their clean, empty drinks bottles is SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth, between their opening hours 10am - 4pm, 7 days a week.

Cllr Paul Wells, chairman of the Environment committee, said: "This project is a great opportunity for school children and residents in the borough to get involved in helping reduce plastic pollution, whilst also contributing to the build of an installation which will be enjoyed by the entire community."

Nathan Barnett, General Manger of SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth, said "We are happy to be part of this community project, I think it's a fantastic way to help educate our future generations, local residents and visitors to the resort about the impact on plastic pollution in our SEAs. This is something that is close to our heart at SEA LIFE where we introduce our visitors to some weird and wonderful creatures, the threats that they face and what we can do to help protect our seas."