Commuters using a busy riverboat stop in London’s Docklands now have a visual reminder of the importance of reducing plastic pollution in the Thames.

A bright orange lifebuoy-shaped bin with the tagline ‘Throw marine life a lifeline’ has been placed at Canary Wharf Pier, on the Isle of Dogs.

The first of its kind in the capital, the bin has been installed by the marine conservation charity GreenSeas Trust, which has previously placed bins on the beachfront at seaside resorts as part of its ‘BinForGreenSeas’ initiative.

The project, which will also include educational sessions with two local schools, has been made possible with £10,000 funding from City Bridge Trust – the City of London Corporation’s charity funder.

GreenSeas Trust chose Canary Wharf as its first London location for its prominent position by the Thames and its world-leading sustainable credentials as a 24/7 sustainable community and a place to work, live and play.

Eight million tonnes of plastic enters oceans every year and a survey of 13 UK rivers in 2019 revealed the Thames was the second most plastic polluted river in the country.

City Bridge Trust Chairman Giles Shilson said:

“The environmental impact of plastic waste in our rivers and seas is a global problem, but one that we can all take action to address in our daily lives.

“This is a really innovative and striking way of raising awareness of the issue at a very busy location and encouraging people to bin their rubbish and reduce their plastic waste.”

The new bin, which has graphics and statistics on the outside to educate people on the issue, was officially opened by Lord Mayor of the City of London William Russell.

Later this month, GreenSeas Trust will run sessions on the importance of keeping plastic out of waterways with children from St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School and Harbinger Primary School, in Millwall.

GreenSeas Trust was founded in 2002 by Fazilette Khan, who was inspired to act after observing rubbish being thrown into the sea on the Caribbean island of Tobago, where her mother was born.

Fazilette Khan, Founding Trustee of GreenSeas Trust, said:

“Sometimes bins can blend into the background and people don’t use them. The idea of this bin is that its colour and shape means it works on a subconscious level and acts as a visual trigger, reminding people to dispose of their rubbish.

“The work we'll be doing with local schools is aimed at getting children enthused about the river and marine conservation, and helping them learn about the small changes they can make to reduce plastic waste and improve the environment.”

Howard Dawber, MD, Strategy, Canary Wharf Group, said:

“Plastic pollution is one of the greatest environmental challenges we face, and it’s getting worse. We are proud to have led on this issue and want to eliminate single-use plastic across Canary Wharf.

“BinForGreenSeas is a great initiative and we are really pleased to have this, the first bin in London, at Canary Wharf. It is not just functional but thought-provoking and will remind people that their personal choices and behaviour can have a positive environmental impact.”

Canary Wharf is the first district in London, and the world’s first commercial centre, to be awarded Plastic Free Communities status by the marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage.

More information about GreenSeas Trust is online at www.greenseas.org

The City of London Corporation’s charity funder, City Bridge Trust, is London’s biggest independent grant giver, making grants of over £25 million a year to tackle disadvantage across the capital – www.citybridgetrust.org.uk

Picture captions

GreenSeas 1 – Lord Mayor of the City of London William Russell cuts the ribbon with GreenSeas Trust founder Fazilette Khan

GreenSeas 2 – The first plastic bottle is placed in the new bin by the Lord Mayor

GreenSeas 3 – From left: Howard Dawber (MD, Strategy at Canary Wharf Group), Fazilette Khan and Emir Feisal (GreenSeas Trust trustees), Lord Mayor William Russell

GreenSeas 4 – Back (from left): Howard Dawber (MD, Strategy at Canary Wharf Group), Fazilette Khan (GreenSeas Trust founder), Lord Mayor William Russell, Helen Ugoji (GreenSeas Trust volunteer), Emir Feisal (GreenSeas Trust trustee)

Front (from left): Geraldine Thompson and Evan Brock (GreenSeas Trust volunteers)

GreenSeas 5 – the new bin is at Canary Wharf Pier

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

The City Corporation is the sole trustee of Bridge Houses Estates, founded in 1097 to maintain London Bridge, and Members of its Court of Common Council form the Bridge House Estates Board.

Bridge House Estates is still responsible for maintaining Tower, London, Southwark, Millennium and Blackfriars Bridges, and its charity funding arm City Bridge Trust – founded in 1995 – gives out over £25 million a year to good causes across the capital – www.citybridgetrust.org.uk

About Canary Wharf Group

Canary Wharf Group (CWG) is the developer of the largest urban regeneration project in Europe. CWG develops, manages and currently owns interests in approximately 7.5 million sq ft of office space, 0.9 million sq ft of retail and over 1,000 Build to Rent apartments and 395 affordable units.

CWG is the largest sustainable developer in the UK with over 11 million sq ft of sustainable certified buildings. CWG also excels operationally as it purchases 100% electricity from renewable sources since 2012 and zero waste to landfill since 2009.

CWG has created a 24/7 city where people can live/work/play on the Canary Wharf estate and enjoy all the benefits: great transport links, access to green spaces and waterside living; and a wide range of amenities including an award-winning arts and events programme. Canary Wharf’s retail offering comprises over 300 shops, including grocery stores, pharmacies, health clubs, bars and restaurants, all within 15 minutes’ walk.

The Company’s current £1.3bn construction activity is composed of 500k square feet of commercial properties and over 1,100 new homes for sale and rent.

Website: www.canarywharf.com

Instagram: @canarywharflondon @woodwharf

Twitter: @YourCanaryWharf; @CanaryWharfGrp @Level39CW, @Wood_Wharf