The Manx Wildlife Trust this week launched Wave Goodbye to Plastics, a year-long campaign to encourage people and businesses on island to reduce their use of plastic.

The BBC’s Blue Planet II programme and recent images of a seal in Manx waters with rope around its neck have shone the spotlight on the problem, and the MWT says urgent action is now needed

A spokesman said: ’Plastic has become the environmental disaster of our generation. Beach Buddies alone collect around 160 tonnes of plastic waste from our beaches every year! This is more than two million items, most of which are single use plastic bottles. We cannot carry on like this and at Manx Wildlife Trust we want to turn things around.’

As part of the campaign, Manx Wildlife Trust will be promoting the hashtag #ManxPlasticPledge and asking people and businesses to contribute to solving the problem, including stopping using at least one item of single-use plastic.

Other ideas include:

Always carry a reusable shopping bag

Refuse plastic drinking straws in pubs and bars

Don’t buy bottled water, instead get a refillable bottle and fill up from the tap

Shop at local markets for unwrapped fruit and veg

Look for plastic-free products like cardboard cotton buds and bamboo toothbrushes

A series of events, including the annual Festival of the Sea in Port Erin on uly 21 and 22, will demonstrate the types of plastics ending up in our seas and the problems they cause as well as challenging everyone to reduce their dependency on plastics.

Manx Wildlife Trust is able to give advice on eco-friendly, plastic-free alternatives to common packaging uses and will be challenging Isle of Man companies to take the #ManxPlasticPledge.

Manx Wildlife Trust chief executive officer Dr Tim Graham said: ’Plastics are everywhere, causing pollution and endangering wildlife on land and in the sea, both internationally and here on the Isle of Man.

’This problem has long been known and action is needed now - it can’t be ignored any longer.

’Our gift shop in Peel will be stocking plastic-free products as well as providing information on how people can go plastic-free. We are also seeking sponsors to enable us to provide free water bottle filling stations in our gift shop and at our visitor centres at Scarlett and the Ayres.

’While we can all take some simple steps, Government and businesses need bold and ambitious plans to cut plastic pollution and waste. Join us by taking the #ManxPlasticPledge and getting involved throughout this year.’