The Plastic Soup Surfer has stirred up a new challenge for himself, following the success of his previous expedition and receiving the best outcome… the implementation of bottle deposits in the Netherlands! This new expedition will bring forth the need for waste separation to be taught within schools, with separate waste collection sites to also be actioned at the schools. Embedding sustainable action learning at the young youth ages which will create lasting habits for the health of our planet.
This September The Plastic Soup Surfer, Starboard Ocean Ambassador Merijn Tinga will be hitting the water and releasing his ‘Better Binners’ tour. Translated and reformed from the dutch words ‘wakkere wegwerpers’ which has a direct translation of ‘awake throw-away-ers’.
What Is Merijn’s Goal?
To make waste separation possible within the classrooms of students. Therefore, creating a habit and ingraining it from an early age, creating sustainable behaviours. The sharing of knowledge will explain that whilst recycling is important, there are three more ‘r’s that should be used a lot more; refuse, reduce and reuse. When it comes to learning about waste separation, it truly shows in a tangible and visible way how our throw-away society can easily add up to copious amounts heading to the landfill. There really is no question, classrooms are currently missing this vital lesson.
The Plastic Soup Surfer has created a ‘best binners toolkit’. The toolkit calls upon teams of students and teachers to directly ask their local town or village mayors to make waste separation possible. Firstly starting with collection points at their schools. Kids will be given the challenge to find fun, creative and inspiring ways to make sure their voices are heard for a sustainable future.
So How Is The Plastic Soup Surfer Getting Around?
The Plastic Soup Surfer will be gathering up his teams during his 550 kilometre windsurf and SUP expedition. Starting from the southern tip of the Netherlands, where the river Maas crosses the Belgian border. Then heading all the way to the most northern Dutch Island, Schiermonnikoog which is in the North Sea. Throughout Merijns route, there are plans to meet with the European Union Vice President as well as various politicians on the way!
What Has the Plastic Soup Surfer Achieved In The Past?
Well, Merijn has completed other expeditions ons boards made from plastic bottles. Whilst on this expedition his persistence, key planning and teaching has lead to huge changes! The biggest being the implementation of a plastic bottle deposit scheme in the Netherlands. You can watch more of his journey on the video below…
How Do I Continue To See What The Plastic Soup Surfer Gets Up To?
Merijn will be sharing daily updates through his Instagram account, in the form of Instagram Live’s. Make sure you are keeping track and give him a follow!
Click here to read more about the campaign expeditions of Merijn Tinga.
