The Isle of Wight Council, with waste partners Amey, are supporting Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean (GBSC) once again this year, with encouragement for Islanders to get involved.
Now in its 7th year, the campaign takes place from 25th March to 10th April. It supports families, neighbours, friends and colleagues to join forces and pledge to pick up litter in order to protect our vibrant communities and precious wildlife habitats.
Cabinet lead for environment, Heritage and waste management, Councillor Jonathan Bacon, said:
“I’m calling on our Island community to once come together with us in our on-going campaign against fly-tip and littering by joining the #BigBagChallenge.
“This year the message is simple. Join GBSC’s #BigBagChallenge and pledge to pick up as much litter as you can – just one bag of litter collected can make a difference to our beautiful environment and we are happy to back this campaign, with our partners, Amey, by arranging the pickup of any waste collected.”
To date an amazing 94,523 bags have been pledged nationally on the GBSC website.
Natasha Dix, strategic manager, contracts, waste and environment, said:
“We know the Island has one of the lowest rates of littering in the South East but we need your help to keep it that way.
“There are lots of ways to take part in the campaign. You might pledge to pick as an individual, or hold a litter picking event as part of a group or a school. You might pledge to pick up one bag of litter or several. As part of our own pledge to support the campaign and the groups participating, we will collect waste, through our partners, Amey, from litter picking activities from locations we will agree with groups in advance.”
Paul Southall, Account Director for Amey on the Isle of Wight, added:
“Amey are very happy to once again support the Great British Spring Clean by collecting all the waste picked up by volunteers.
“We all have a part in to play in keeping our communities clean, preserving our natural environment and reducing harmful flytip and litter.”
How to get involved
- register your litter pick on the Keep Britain Tidy website
- contact [email protected] to let them know: your name or the name of your group, a telephone number or email address and the date, location and finishing time of the litter pick
Before your litter pick
By contacting the Council before your litter pick, they can arrange when and where to pick up your bags.
You should also complete a risk assessment – litter picks are generally very safe but working through an assessment can help ensure that events run as smoothly and safely as possible.
The day of the litter pick
Ensure gloves are worn whilst completing the litter picks, or use a litter picker.
Make sure volunteers know about health and safety risks, who is responsible for first aid, how to use the equipment, the route and timings.
Be considerate – don’t disturb animals, damage plants or remove natural ‘rubbish’ like logs, stones and weeds – they can be home to animals.
Make sure all volunteers, particularly children, are aware of what not to pick up, like drug-related litter, for example. Note the location of such litter and tell the Council online, by email at: [email protected] or by calling the councils waste services on 01983 823777.
After the litter pick
Please tell the council about the results of the pick – what quirky or unusual items you picked up, how much litter was collected, how many people were involved, and any pictures that can be used to publicise the community’s hard work by emailing [email protected].
Will Amey give a bonus or share of their profits since we are doing their job for them?
Er, excuse me, but I have just opened my council tax bill with the new increase showing and you are expecting me to go and pick up other peoples litter for nothing. I don’t think so !!!
It all comes down to how much you care for the community you live in Babs. You obviously don’t care if there’s rubbish everywhere and are quite happy walking through it and stepping over it. All Councils have to put up Council Tax. Central Government in Westminster, the Conservatives, have cut back on funds they give to local councils. Remember this when it comes to voting at the next General Election.
Do you cast your vote? It all makes a difference.
I dont care at all about community – there are so many deadbeats and spongers with their hands out expecting others to pay for them and care for them, I see no reason to do anything that supports the quality of life of these freeloading parasites – how about they clear up instead of burdening the taxpayer with their presence.
One does’t need to wait for an organised event to make a difference – I frequently pick up other’s rubbish, though they keep on throwing it..it seems to be mainly young people, esp smokers and drinkers..
I do this all year round because I care for my community, even if the lazy, couldn’t give a fig about dropping litter lot don’t.
This is very admirable and I fully understand the situation, but if people had a little bit more about them and stopped littering, public litter bins were emptied more frequently the situation would not be anywhere near as bad as it is.
In other words we’re shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. Prevention is always better than cure.
Having worked for the council many years ago, I know they will use this to cut services. Shame really.
Went over to Ryde today. Litter bins on the seafront overflowing with rubbish that the council have not dealt with. Why should we do what the council have been paid to do through our taxes? Schemes like these, whilst done with good intentions, only make the councils ignore their responsibility for emptying bins as they know someone else will pick up the rubbish.
Someone in the immediate area needs to get on Fixmystreet and report these bins being full. I agree with you, we pay our taxes but unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world.
If the lazy, dirty buggers didn’t drop their litter in the first place, there wouldn’t be a problem.
Well said, Sunshine (x3).
I would join but have enough litter either blown into my front garden or thrown in by passers bye who can’t be bothered to use the waste bins a few metres away.
Why not get all those on community service and those that claim benefits out there ???
There are a fair few who don’t want to work because they are better off unemployed!!!!!
And yes I know that there are genuine people who can’t work for various reasons etc.
Those that do not actively seek work should have to do community work to get their benefits…..