Introducing The Margate Cup, businesses making waves and an unusual beach clean
Be part of the reuse revolution with #ChooseToReuse, be a beach cleaning seagull, and get stuck in with community composting!
#ChooseToReuse with The Margate Cup
Margate loves coffee and we're not alone. In the UK, 2.5 billion single-use coffee cups are thrown away each year, ending up in landfill and in our waterways. We want to see more people with reusable coffee cups and less single-use plastic on our streets and beaches.
In partnership with Oast Bakery and Rise Up Clean Up, we're launching Margate’s first reusable cup scheme. From June, Oast Bakery is introducing The Margate Cup - a reusable, returnable and recyclable option for coffee lovers.
Getting your drink to takeaway? For an extra £2.50, you’ll receive a beautiful reusable cup made from 100% recycled and recyclable materials. Keep it, wash it and reuse it, to get a discount on your coffee at Oast or any participating coffee shop.
Each cup can save up to 900 single-use cups from ending up in landfill. Plus, for each one sold, a 25p donation goes to our amazing friends at Rise Up Clean Up.
The Margate Cup and #ChooseToReuse discount scheme is a pilot project that we hope will stem the tide of single-use coffee cups across town. We eventually hope to bring it to other parts of Thanet too.
Are you a coffee shop owner looking for ways to reduce your plastic waste? Join the discount scheme or start stocking the cups. Email us to get started.
Million Mile Clean: Seagulls clean up Margate beach on 6th July
Join Rise Up Clean Up and Plastic Free Thanet for a beach clean with a twist!
On Saturday 6th July, Margate is hosting a flagship Million Mile Clean in collaboration with Surfers Against Sewage. We’re recruiting a team of giant seagulls to clean up the Main Sands, putting the rubbish safely out of reach of our real feathered friends.
How you can get involved…
We will be adorning ourselves in some amazing reused and recycled seagull attire for this big beach clean. Join our free costume workshop from 10am-12.45pm, before we head onto the beach for a 1pm start.
Suitable for all ages, all materials for the workshop and the beach clean will be provided. Under 18s must be supervised by an adult.
Let us know you’re coming by booking your free tickets here.
New business champions: The Grain Grocer
We have more business champions joining the fight against single-use plastic! This month we’re celebrating The Grain Grocer in Cliftonville.
An organic produce and refill shop, The Grain Grocer has served the community in Cliftonville for more than 8 years. The Grain Grocer offers everything from plastic free pantry refills to loose organic produce, locally baked breads and locally sourced eggs. They are certainly doing their bit to encourage customers to say no to single-use.
Are you a business owner worried about how much single-use plastic you use? We can help! Drop us an email.
Plastic Free Champions in Ramsgate
We are working with Ramsgate businesses behind the scenes to reduce their single-use plastic. Expect to see some Ramsgate Plastic Free Champions profiled soon.
Are you a business owner in Ramsgate concerned about how much plastic you’re using? We’re here to help you, send us an email.
Plastic Free Thanet on Academy FM Thanet
We wanted to say a massive thank you to Paul Rutterford and his team at Academy FM Thanet for chatting to us about everything Plastic Free Thanet and the launch of The Margate Cup. You can listen to the interview here.
Community composting at the Windmill Community Garden, Margate
Co-written with Rachel Mills
Anyone in our community can now take food scraps to be composted at Windmill Community Gardens (WCG) on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11am–2pm thanks to funding from Kent Community Foundation
Closed loop systems, like community compost schemes, reduce our environmental impact and have huge benefits for communities. Our food waste feeds the soil, that grows our local veg, feeding the community, and our scraps will feed the soil again as organic waste to grow more veg.
To get involved in compost-related events and workshops happening this summer, see www.windmillcommunitygardensmargate.com or visit Dane Valley Road, Margate, CT9 2SH.
Great Big Green Week
Greener Kent is championing community action to protect nature, during Great Big Green Week this June.
From 8-16 June, join, run or support local events championing nature and learn about how to make your life a little greener. Find local events and get tips on green living, on the Great Big Green Week website.
Planning your own event? You can also add your event to the Great Big Green Week events map.
Upcoming beach cleans
Join Rise Up Clean Up for a summer of community beach cleans!
Upcoming beach cleans:
Sunday 2 June, 2pm - The Mergate Beach Clean
Sunday 9 June, 11am-12.30pm - Sustainability on Sea beach clean with Rise Up Clean Up and Dreamland
Friday 28 June, 10am-12pm, at Pegwell Bay with Thanet Coast Project, event details here
Saturday 6 July, 1-5pm - Seagulls Million Mile Beach Clean with Rise Up Clean Up and Plastic Free Thanet
Weekly beach cleans start again from 13 July, every Sunday from 4pm.
Meeting at the blue and white beach hut on Margate Main Sands (opposite Arlington House). All equipment is provided and everyone is welcome (and needed!).
Under 18s must be with an adult. Please wear covered shoes.
For updates, keep an eye on RUCU socials.
Find a beach clean near you via Thanet Coast Project.
Can’t make it to the beach cleans?
No problem! There are beach cleaning stations dotted all along the front on Margate Main Sands, just grab a green bag from the cleaning station and get cleaning.
Hi Great newsletter! For your & others' info, there's also a Big Green Week in Thanet Facebook page that's been going for a few years now, where we try to list all the things going on across Thanet and set up event reminders for them. Please feel free to join - and do please add stuff! 💚