Over 30 million tons of litter are discarded throughout the UK annually.
This not only tarnishes our neighborhoods but also poses a threat to wildlife and requires an estimated £1 billion each year for cleanup.
Encouragingly, the environmental organization Keep Britain Tidy is reintroducing the Great British Spring Clean and Great Big School Clean from March 13-29, where once again, hundreds of thousands of individuals will aid in brightening our streets.
Since its inception as a one-time initiative in 2016, a group of Litter Heroes has demonstrated their affection for their communities by committing to clearing more than 4.5 million bags of trash from various locations in Britain, such as streets, parks, fields, riverbanks, and beaches.
The Great British Spring Clean is scheduled for March 13-29. Enroll today at keepbritaintidy.org and promise to collect any number of garbage bags you wish.
You can make a commitment as a team, an individual, or a school. Simply register your name, email address, postcode, and specify the quantity of bags you intend to collect.
In the previous year alone, nearly 400,000 volunteers participated in the annual clean-up, filling approximately 462,000 bags with litter. A survey of participants revealed that 95% believed their contributions noticeably enhanced their local surroundings.
One of this year’s advocates is civil servant Emdad Rahman, one of Keep Britain Tidy’s 200 inspirational Litter Hero Ambassadors. He is also featured in the charity’s national advertising campaign for the Great British Spring Clean.
Emdad oversees the Little Litter League, an initiative that motivates young people and their families to take responsibility for the environment. He organizes regular litter-picking sessions and emphasizes the importance of education in effecting lasting change.
He states, “I have three children, and I want to teach them the significance of utilizing time effectively. I firmly believe that one individual can have an impact, which is why I am dedicated to my cause. When you exhibit passion, it spreads.”
“Concerning litter, I am of the opinion that if we created the mess, we are responsible for cleaning it up.”
Other heroes joining Emdad include Sarah Drakes, sustainability manager at Nestlé Confectionery UK&I, who has backed the Great British Spring Clean for the past six years.
“Throughout this period, I have coordinated litter-picking events for employees with Keep Britain Tidy and promoted awareness among colleagues at our York site,” she notes.
“As a food and beverage company, our goal is to ensure none of our packaging ends up as litter or in landfills.”
KFC UK&I is also a steadfast partner. Over five years of collaboration with Keep Britain Tidy, area coach Rob Edwards has ensured his teams partake in the annual Spring Clean, contributing to the cleanliness and upkeep of communities surrounding KFC establishments.
For nearly a decade, food giant Mars Wrigley has supported the campaign and funds the Chewing Gum Task Force with an investment of up to £10 million over five years to reduce gum litter nationwide.
The initiative has led to a reduction in gum littering of up to 86% through street cleaning and awareness initiatives.
The Great British Spring Clean offers you the opportunity to make a positive impact on your community, and you can commit to collecting a bag, or more, starting from Friday, February 13.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, CEO of Keep Britain Tidy, acknowledges, “Thanks to devoted and enthusiastic volunteers like Emdad, over four million bags of harmful litter have been cleared from streets, parks, and beaches.”
“We express our gratitude to Litter Heroes nationwide for taking affirmative steps to combat litter and demonstrate their affection for their localities.”
Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, adds, “It is inspiring to witness volunteers safeguarding the local environment in communities across Britain, sending a strong message that each of us can contribute to nature preservation.”
This year’s campaign is made possible through the support of People’s Postcode Lottery players, media partners Bauer Media Outdoor, Magic Radio, and The Mirror, as
