CanalCuttings - Your FREE Online-world British Inland Waterways, Narrowboat, River Cruiser, Canal Boat Magazine, Info Source and Britain's & Narrowboat Holiday Guide.
Around 850 Pages of Information and Features About Canals, Navigable Rivers and Their Usage - We're not just a Narrowboat World Magazine. The website includes River and Inland Waterways information - UK Inland Waterways Press Releases and Articles Invited.

Union Canal - Plastic Fantastic - Recycle Bottles!

Tam has bottle to float his boat as Plastic Fantastic sails into the sunset for ever!

Scotland's Union Canal links the Falkirk Wheel to the heart of Edinburgh via an enjoyably rural 32 mile route.

Local marine engineer Tam Walker, who works for Capercaillie boat hire company, has at last found a solution for all the plastic bottles littering the canal. Doing his bit to keep the canal tidy Tam started lifting out the waste and discarded pop and ginger plastic bottles that had been thrown into the canal. However, as a keen environmentalist Tam had an alternative idea on how to recycle the bottles. Using gaffa tape, lots of glue and 90 bottles Tam built his own sustainable boat “Plastic Fantastic”. With the celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the Union Canal fast approaching Tam decided to use this momentous occasion for the launch of his own sustainable craft.

The Union Canal features Scotland's only canal tunnels, dramatic aqueducts, and peaceful scenery.

With friends and family joining the flotilla to celebrate the Union Canal 10th Anniversary Tam took his craft along and launched “Plastic Fantastic” to the amazement of the assembled audience. The whole boat, including the paddle was homemade and recycled with not a girder in site. Tam was so pleased that afterwards he carried out an impromptu celebratory dive into the canal.