Wanda the Waste Warrior fights plastic pollution in Purbeck

A six metre fish sculpture to encourage the recycling of plastic and cans, as well as refilling and reusing bottles, is travelling to Studland, Swanage and Wareham.

Highlighting the issues around plastic pollution, the metal wire fish called Wanda, is usually based in Bournemouth but has been visiting Lulworth Cove and is now heading for Studland.

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Filling our oceans and sea-life with plastic

The campaign organised by Sustainable Wareham and Litter Free Dorset – Land, Coast and Sea aims to spread the reuse, reduce and refill message, bringing home the fact that we are filling our oceans and sea-life with plastic.

Wanda the Waste Warrior is in Lulworth Cove until Sunday 5th September 2021 before travelling to Knoll Beach in Studland.

Wanda’s tour dates:

  • Lulworth Cove – Friday 27th August to Sunday 5th September 2021
  • Studland’s Knoll Beach – Monday 6th to Sunday 12th September 2021
  • Swanage by the Information Centre in Shore Road – Monday 13th to Sunday 19th September 2021
  • Wareham Quay – Monday 20th to Sunday 26th September 2021
Wanda the fish recycle bin in Lulworth on a truck
Lulworth Rangers

Wanda the Waste Warrior is on a tour, visiting Lulworth Cove, Studland, Swanage and Wareham

“Engaging with local, green sustainability projects

Vicky Charles from Sustainable Wareham said:

“Her tour will end at Wareham Quay in the last week of September – coinciding with Planet Purbeck Festival – a week of exciting events across Purbeck celebrating our natural world and engaging with local, green sustainability projects.

“The final day of the festival, Sunday 26th September is World Rivers Day, and appropriately Wanda will be the centre of a clean up of the River Frome by Preventing Plastic Pollution. Purbeck residents and visitors are welcome to come and feed Wanda!”

Wanda the fish recycle bin in Lulworth
Lulworth Rangers

First stop off on Wanda’s tour was Lulworth Cove

Large number of single-use bottles

The original idea of creating eye catching wire fish (there are others called Nellie and Tiddler!) was that of the environmental charity, Final Straw Foundation.

While it is a simple way to visually illustrate the large number of single-use bottles we consume, by filling the wire bin, the long term aim of the charity is to encourage people to ditch the use of single plastics altogether.

Final Straw Foundation said:

“Plastic bottles can’t be recycled indefinitely – in fact, currently most plastics are only recycled two to three times, if they are recycled at all.

“We firmly believe that using reusable items such as washable, metal water bottles, cutlery and reusable coffee cups will still always be the better option for our environment and wildlife!”

More information

  • For more about Sustainable Wareham visit its website
  • More about preventing plastic pollution is on the Litter Free Dorset website
  • Big fish sculpture details are on the Final Straw Foundation website
Wanda the fish recycle bin poster

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