MYGroup Ltd. Celebrates Successful Completion of Scottish Highlands and Islands Beach Cleans

MYGroup Ltd. announces the Successful Completion of the Scottish Highlands and Islands beach cleans with Keep Britain 'Ocean Recovery Project, collaborating with & multiple environmental organisations, local groups and volunteers.

Watch the Video here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SACYqhgIrgk

MYGroup Ltd is proud to announce its support for the Scottish Highlands and Islands Beach Clean in collaboration with The Ocean Recovery Project and the Scottish Islands Federation. This initiative aims to combat ocean plastic waste, protect marine ecosystems, and promote circularity principles in Scotland's beautiful coastal regions. This project brought together a diverse group of dedicated organisations, volunteers, and local communities, united by a common goal: to protect our oceans for future generations.

The project was made possible through the joint efforts of:

MYGroup Ltd: MYGroup leveraged its expertise in environmental sustainability and waste management to support ocean recovery efforts.

Local volunteers and community groups along the west coast of Scotland played a crucial role in the project's success, contributing their time, knowledge, and passion for preserving their natural environment. Plastics were recycled from beach cleans and beach litter surveys conducted on the Isles of Skye, Tiree, Eigg, Kerrera, Lismore, and Tanera Mor, as well as cleans at Coigach and Oban.

Groups collaborating with the cleans included:

• Keep Britain Tidy's Ocean Recovery Project
• Scottish Islands Federation
• Scottish Coastal Cleanup
• Skye Beach Cleans
• Highlands and Islands Climate Hub
• Eigg Environmental Action Group
• Sustainably Spectrum
• Ocean Gives
• Northwest Highlands Beach Cleans
• Selkie Explorers
• Tanera Project
• Eigg Primary & Nursery School
• Living the Skye Life

The Project was also supported by Highland Council and MOWI Scotland who provided skips for the Skye cleans and arranged disposal of remaining litter.

Together these organisations help guide best practices and innovative solutions for ocean recovery proving invaluable resources, research, and support for the Project.

Volunteers: Over 70  volunteers from various backgrounds and age groups participated in the beach cleans, data collection, and educational outreach, demonstrating a collective commitment to environmental stewardship.

The Project involved extensive beach clean initiatives, where volunteers removed approximately 7 tonnes of plastic waste, improving the health of the local area. In addition to the physical efforts, the Project emphasised education and awareness, with workshops aimed at informing the public about the impacts of plastic pollution, advocacy artwork, and a litter repurposing demonstration. Pupils from the Isle of Eigg primary and nursery school were also given a short talk about recycling and shown some 'MyBoard'* materials. The plastics collected on their beach clean would create more board for future products.

Due to the remote nature of some cleanup locations, boats were required to transport the plastics to designated landing points for recycling and disposal.

At MYGroup, we believe that real environmental progress happens when innovation meets collaboration. This project across the Scottish Highlands and Islands is a powerful example of that – dozens of passionate individuals and organisations coming together to remove almost eight tons of waste from our shores and give it new life through our advanced recycling technologies. We’re proud to play our part in building a circular economy and protecting the places and ecosystems that matter most.

Steve Carrie, Director, MYGroup

"Our oceans are vital to our planet's health, and it is our responsibility to ensure they are protected," said Aimee Steward at MYGroup Ltd. "This Project exemplifies what can be achieved when communities come together with a shared vision. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who participated, and we hope this initiative inspires further action."

As the project concludes, MYGroup Ltd is committed to continuing its efforts in ocean recovery and sustainable practices. The lessons learned and relationships built during this initiative will serve as a foundation for future projects that promote environmental health and resilience.


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About MYGroup Ltd:

MYGroup Ltd is a leader in waste management solutions. With a commitment to innovative practices, MYGroup aims to reduce plastic waste and promote a healthier planet through community engagement and responsible stewardship.

*

MYBoard is created on the P2 Platemaker innovation from Protomax Plastics.

Statements from contributors:

Vicki Last, Scottish Islands Federation:

The Scottish Islands Federation is delighted with the success of this year's marine litter recycling uplift from across the Scottish Islands and the west coast. The scale of the collective effort has been inspiring, reflecting the deep commitment of volunteers and communities to cleaning our coastlines and safeguarding the marine environment. It is a privilege to work alongside so many amazing partner organisations, and the collaborative spirit underpinning the Project has been heartening and essential to its success. We also greatly value the opportunity to recycle a portion of the collected litter, promoting circular economy principles. It is encouraging to see a range of innovative recycling solutions for marine litter being implemented, contributing not only to cleaner coastlines but to more sustainable futures for our island communities.

Kerrie Flockhart, Scottish Coastal Clean Up:

Scottish Coastal Clean Up was proud to be part of the Bracadale Blitz, three days of hard work, collaboration and real impact around Loch Bracadale. Our boat allowed access to remote parts of the coastline, enabling volunteers and partner organisations to clean areas that are otherwise hard to reach. This kind of support is vital for community-led action in tackling marine litter. We brought 10 volunteers, who together contributed 216 hours of beach cleaning throughout the event. It was a privilege to work alongside several other amazing organisations and local community members, all committed to making a real difference on our coastlines. This kind of collaboration shows 'what's possible when we bring together local knowledge, on-the-ground effort, and specialist recycling expertise. 'We're proud to have been part of it.

Geoff Pringle, NW Highland Beach Cleans:

Huge thanks to the SCCU crew and SIF for their recent visit to Coigach to assist NWHBC with cleaning up our beaches. Over three days, 31 volunteers cleaned five beaches and removed a total of 1,102 kg of plastic from the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area coastline. Great to hear that The Ocean Recovery Project will recycle tonnes of this plastic. A fantastic collaborative effort by all involved.

Violet Fraser, Sustainably Spectrum:

Collaborating with beach cleaners and creative recyclers to upcycle and reuse marine debris has been a fantastic experience and a brilliant opportunity to share skills and materials. This has highlighted what strong links between organisations and individuals can achieve, and further our collective mission to clean our beautiful coastlines, as well as utilise all our creative talents and expertise to create attractive and meaningful artwork that communicates the ongoing threat to our environment from plastic pollution.

Camille Dressler, Eigg Environmental Action Group:

Removing marine litter from our many beaches on Eigg is an ongoing task, as each tide seems to bring more. We are grateful to the members of our community who regularly attend to clean and monitor our main beaches, and to our visitors who understand our problem and help gather beach litter during their walks. Having some of it taken away to be recycled into something useful is fantastic - if only we could recycle it all.

Katy Lawrence, Highlands and Islands Climate Hub:

The Highlands and Islands Climate Hub is proud to highlight the tremendous efforts behind the Marine Litter Recycling Uplift and Bracadale Beach Blitz. These initiatives exemplify the powerful impact that can be achieved when individuals and organisations unite to address shared challenges. The value of this collaboration is evident in the significant voluntary effort and the considerable number of hours dedicated to cleaning our shorelines. Additionally, it highlights a commitment to circular economic principles through a coordinated approach to reuse and recycling.

Peggy Semler, Skye Beach Cleans:

Skye Beach Cleans is delighted by the success of the Loch Bracadale Beach Blitz! This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible support from our partner organisations and dedicated volunteers. Given the limited recycling facilities for marine litter in the Highlands and Islands, we are especially grateful for the participation of MyGroup and Ocean Recovery, which enabled us to divert a significant amount of hard plastic and netting from landfills. Thank you all for making a positive impact!'