The problem of plastic waste is not just for governments to solve, the public needs to play its part.

That’s the view of the man who has spent years cleaning the Isle of Man’s beaches.

Bill Dale formed Beach Buddies, whose worked earned him recognition from the Queen last year, when he was awarded the British Empire Medal.

Beach Buddies, which organises litter-picks year-round, has been working with the Manx Government over the possibility of introducing a plastic bag levy and other initiatives to try to reduce the amount of plastic waste.

Some have expressed concern that the Isle of Man has not yet followed the larger nations of the British Isles by introducing a levy on plastic bags given out by shops.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has unveiled a 25-year plan to combat plastic pollution.

Mr Dale said there was no reason for people the Isle of Man to wait for legislation. The community could do more itself.

’In fact, if you think about it, the reason why there is such a huge problem all over the world is not because of governments and politicians,’ he said. ’It is us, the public, who are throwing plastic bottles, plastic bags, tin cans, fast food containers and millions of other items into the world’s streets, eventually ending up on our beaches.

responsibility

’So, it’s our responsibility to do something about it, ourselves, and the people themselves can actually take control of this situation very easily, and very quickly.’

Mr Dale added: ’Beach Buddies is working on the possibility of introducing a plastic bag levy with government and politicians, along with a whole range of other initiatives designed to place the Isle of Man at the forefront in terms of how we engage with the environment and wildlife.

’Several ideas are under discussion, but there are practicalities involved, and Beach Buddies appreciates that these things don’t happen overnight, because of the logistics of changing legislation and the length of time it takes to make changed to the law.’

He said that members of the public could ’make their own stand and take a lead’ on issues such as recycling, refusing plastic bags at shop and rejecting plastic straws cups and cutlery, along with polystyrene fast food containers and coffee cups.

’Schools around the island are already keenly involved with Beach Buddies and we are asking them to set an example to their parents, by showing they care about their island, the wildlife and the marine life,’ he added.

’There is so much we can do without the need for waiting for new legislation from government.’

Millions of tonnes of plastic end up in oceans around the world every year. England, Scotland and Wales have all introduced plastic bag levies.

The idea of a plastic bag levy in the Isle of Man was mooted as an early UNESCO biosphere project and discussed at a meeting of the ’stakeholder partnership group’.

In May last year, Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture member Tim Baker told the House of Keys that an update could be made by October. But, that did not happen.

A department spokesman told the Examiner: ’DEFA is still looking at options for reducing the use of plastic bags and at ways of reducing other single use plastics in the Isle of Man, and work on this is ongoing.’

When the matter was raised in the House of Keys again in December, Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot said: ’I can confirm that most of the large retailers in the Isle of Man do indeed levy on plastic bags.’ Those that did levy returned the money through local charity contributions, he said, and the Manx government was keen to ensure that money stays on island.

Mr Boot said that, under the ’UK model’ for plastic bag levies, it did not apply to companies employing fewer than 200 people.

’Generally, trends are towards more multi-use bags, paper packaging et cetera,’ Mr Boot told the Keys. ’So, consumer behaviour is moving in the right direction. We just need to prompt it.’