West Suffolk Council supports communities to clean up as part of country’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign

02 Sep 2020

West Suffolk Council has pledged its support for this year’s Great British September Clean.

The campaign, which was postponed in early spring due to COVID-19, will run from 11-27 September 2020. It will encourage the great British public to take part in small, socially distanced clean-ups to remove litter from streets, parks and beaches across the country.

The Great British Spring Clean, run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, brings together individuals, community organisations, businesses and councils to show they love where they live and in 2019 more than half a million #LitterHeroes collected more than 900,000 bags of rubbish.

West Suffolk Council is supporting litter picking with advice and equipment on a first come first serve basis.

Councillor John Griffiths, Leader of West Suffolk Council said: “‘While the way litter picks are run has been affected by COVID-19, the commitment of our fantastic volunteers remains strong. To help  them to work safely, we are giving them the equipment they need. This means they can take care of a given area in their own time. I applaud their efforts and thank them on behalf of us all.”

Litter pickers are being asked to put what they collect in their household waste bins. To find out more about organising a litter pick please contact volunteers@westsuffolk.gov.uk

Individuals can sign up online https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/lwyl/arrangelitterpick.cfm

Anecdotally, levels of litter during lockdown appeared to be lower, but with recovery, they are once again increasing.

Cllr Peter Stevens, Cabinet member for Operations at West Suffolk Council said: “There is no excuse for not disposing of waste responsibly. If you cannot find a suitable bin, take it home with you. A significant amount of litter comes from fast food packaging and thinking about how you’re going to dispose of it means it is less likely to become litter. Carrier bags of waste stuffed into litter bins means they overflow, so squash the packaging to reduce its volume, leaving room for others.”

Keep Britain Tidy Deputy Chief Executive Richard McIlwain said: "The overwhelming response to last year’s Great British Spring Clean showed that hundreds of thousands of people who love where they live and are prepared to take action to make it better for themselves, their families and their communities.

“Never before has it been more important for our community to unite in our fight against litter. We know that taking part in community action has positive effects on our mental health, and right now, anything we can do to unite British citizens and empower communities to make a difference during these uncertain times is so important.

“We are delighted that West Suffolk Council is supporting this year’s campaign and would like to thank them for their support. Without councils across the country giving the campaign their backing, our volunteers would not be able to do the incredible job they do.”

The campaign, in partnership with the Daily Mail, is made possible thanks to headline partners Co-op, Mars Wrigley, Red Bull and Wilko and is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The campaign is also supported by Clear Channel, Coca-Cola, Pepsi MAX and Walkers.

To find out how you can get involved, whether that’s by pledging to pick up litter in the course of your daily routine or organising a clean-up with up to five friends or family, visit https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/GBSeptemberClean

---