Simon continued, "As one of the most popular suppliers of gully grates in the UK, we felt we had an opportunity to create a positive environmental impact by reminding people that there is a correct place for litter to go, and it’s not down our drains.
"We’re lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful natural landscapes on the planet and so it’s a shame to see it needlessly harmed by pollution and rubbish. More so when we see the ripple effects of excess nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen seeping into and harming our freshwater habitats, and in some cases being enough to kill the fish population.
"Ceres Rise is just the beginning for this campaign, and we’ll be looking to spread this important message even further, throughout this year and beyond. The main culprit of river pollution in the UK is smoking-related litter; however, confectionery packets, drinks bottles and cans, fast food, wet wipes, and more recently disposable vapes all contribute to a harmful chemical cocktail."
The government’s Environmental Audit Committee (2022) found that housing developments’ drainage systems which are clogged with ‘a profusion of plastic and other non-biodegradable waste’, in addition to heavy rainfall, often leads to an overloaded sewerage system unable to cope effectively.
Alaric Ross-Wagenknecht, project engineer at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Anglia, said: “The idea came to me when playing with LEGO with my young children and thinking about my job as a civil engineer working in residential housebuilding.
“I wanted to educate children and adults in a fun and informative way about the importance of pollution control and the role of drainage infrastructure and the water cycle.
“To permanently imprint the message ‘The Sea Starts Here’ on a gully grating means the message will be here for years to come, throughout the gully’s whole life cycle. That will get people thinking twice about gullies and their role.”
