Meet Rayer Waddell, an eight-year-old girl with a heart full of love for the ocean. She’s determined to help reduce plastic pollution with her beach cleaning adventures! Keep reading to discover how Rayer and her stuffed animal friend, Cranberry, are creating a brighter future for our oceans.

Rayer and her reindeer buddy, Cranberry, spend their free time cleaning up Blyth Beach in Northumberland, England. No matter the weather, they can be found combing the shoreline, picking up litter left behind by the tides.

Rayer and her family also take care of eight large beach recycling bins, emptying them every night to ensure a cleaner beach for everyone to enjoy.

Rayer’s dream is to see a world where plastic pollution is stopped at its source. She hopes to inspire people to dispose of their waste properly and ultimately, reduce plastic usage altogether. Over the years, Rayer has cleaned an impressive 300,500 plastic bottles, and she’s still going strong!

As we know, plastic pollution is a pressing global issue but it’s also a problem that we can all do something about, and Rayer is a shining example of that. She’s inspiring others to follow in her footsteps and take action to protect our planet.

In her quest for a cleaner ocean, Rayer has joined forces with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) to lobby the government for meaningful action against plastic pollution on beaches. Their proposal? A nationwide Deposit Return Scheme that encourages the use of reusable cups.

The concept is simple: people pay a small fee to rent a reusable cup when buying a drink. Once they’re done, they return the cup to the store, receive their deposit back, and the cup is cleaned for reuse. This would help prevent cups and bottles from being left behind on beaches, making Rayer’s efforts even more impactful.

Rayer Waddell is a true eco-hero, proving that age is just a number when it comes to making a difference. Her passion for protecting the ocean is a beacon of hope for a greener, cleaner future. So, let’s follow Rayer’s example and do our part to keep our beloved beaches pristine!