£200,000 grant scheme for litter in County Down
The marine litter clean-up initiative, funded by DAERA and delivered by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful through the Live Here Love Here campaign, is now in its third year and has supported more than 50 projects province-wide.
The civic-pride campaign, Live Here Love Here has announced the return of the highly successful Marine Litter Grant, an initiative funded by the Waste Prevention Branch of the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
The initiative will support ideas that prevent litter from entering County Down’s waterways, including oceans, coastlines, rivers and lakes.
The scheme aims to protect our blue spaces, improve marine biodiversity, and support the health of our communities with aquatic spaces a key contributor to wellbeing.
Community groups, organisations and businesses based anywhere in Northern Ireland can apply for a share of the almost £200,000 fund available this year.
Ruth Clarke, Waste Prevention Policy Branch DAERA, said: “We are proud to support the Marine Litter Capital Grants Scheme for the third year, and look forward to seeing the varied and innovative projects come to life as a result of this funding.”
According to the European Environment Agency, 80 per cent of marine litter originates from land-based activities with 85 per cent of this content plastic that permeates for up to 500 years.
Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful’s most recent Marine Litter Report, published in 2022, shows that an average of 762 items of litter were found per 100 metres of beach surveyed, double the 375 items recorded the previous year.
Chris Gourley, Waste and Pollution Solutions Strategic Lead at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said: “We are committed to the ongoing and complex battle against marine pollution and delighted to deliver this grant scheme once again with support from DAERA.
“In the last three years we have identified a diverse array of projects that tackle the problem of marine pollution from both land and sea.
“These projects span a wide spectrum of creative solutions and approaches, but all share the common goal of safeguarding our aquatic spaces.
“It proves that together, we can make a real difference to pollution levels, but also leave a legacy of environmental stewardship for generations to come.”
The Marine Litter Grants Scheme has already made a significant impact on marine conservation efforts across Northern Ireland.
Funding has been provided for over 50 innovative projects with a combined value of £550,000.
These projects include Sea Shepherd who were successful applicants in 2022 for its project that aims to tackle the issue of ghost nets, the most damaging form of marine litter. It focussed on the East Coast of Northern Ireland, with a primary focus on the Ards Peninsula beaches.
Eligible projects include ways to minimise waste generated by events.
This can include disposable items which can enter our waterways, shipping, and vessel operations such as discarded fishing gear, cargo packaging, and other materials that can contribute to marine litter and urban and rural litter.
Rubbish and debris found in streets and parks can be carried by wind or run-off into rivers and oceans.
Applications for the Marine Litter Grant are open from September 28th to November 9th.
To learn more about the application process, eligibility criteria, and for more information on Live Here Love Here visit:
https://liveherelovehere.etinu.net/cgi-bin/generic?instanceID=46.
