Over 30 million tonnes of litter are discarded annually throughout the UK.
This not only presents a visible eyesore in our neighborhoods but also poses a threat to wildlife and results in an estimated cost of £1 billion each year for cleanup efforts.
Fortunately, the environmental organization Keep Britain Tidy is bringing back the Great British Spring Clean and Great Big School Clean from March 13 to 29. During this period, hundreds of thousands of individuals will join forces to enhance the cleanliness of our streets.
Since its inception as a one-time event in 2016, a group of Litter Heroes has demonstrated their commitment to their communities by committing to collecting more than 4.5 million bags of trash from various locations such as streets, parks, fields, riverbanks, and beaches across Britain.
The Great British Spring Clean is scheduled for March 13-29. Enroll today at keepbritaintidy.org and declare the number of bin bags you intend to gather.
You can make a pledge as an individual, a group, or a school. Simply provide your name, email address, and postcode, and specify the number of bags you plan to pick up.
In the previous year alone, nearly 400,000 volunteers participated in the annual litter collection, filling approximately 462,000 bags of waste. According to a survey conducted among participants, 95% agreed that their contributions significantly improved their local surroundings.
Among the advocates this year is civil servant Emdad Rahman, one of Keep Britain Tidy’s 200 exceptional Litter Hero Ambassadors, backed by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. He is prominently featured in the charity’s national advertising campaign for the Great British Spring Clean.
Emdad directs the Little Litter League, a program that encourages young people and their families to take responsibility for the environment. He organizes regular litter-picking sessions and emphasizes the importance of education in instigating long-lasting change.
“I have three children, and I want to demonstrate to them the impact one can make by utilizing time effectively,” he remarked.
“I firmly believe that an individual can create a positive change, and that’s why I am involved in this cause. When you exhibit your passion, it becomes infectious.
“Regarding litter, I believe that if we are responsible for creating the issue, we must also be accountable for resolving it.”
He is accompanied by other heroes, including Sarah Drakes, sustainability manager at Nestlé Confectionery UK&I, who has been supporting the Great British Spring Clean since her company joined the initiative six years ago.
“Throughout this time, I have coordinated employee litter-picking events with Keep Britain Tidy and raised awareness among colleagues at our York site,” she noted.
“As a food and beverage company, our objective is to ensure none of our packaging ends up as litter or in landfills.”
KFC UK&I is another enduring partner. Over the five-year collaboration with Keep Britain Tidy, area coach Rob Edwards has ensured his teams participate in the annual Spring Clean, contributing to maintaining the cleanliness and upkeep of communities surrounding KFC restaurants.
Food conglomerate Mars Wrigley has also backed the campaign for nearly a decade and sponsors the Chewing Gum Task Force, which has allocated up to £10 million over five years to diminish gum litter nationwide.
The initiative has led to reductions in gum littering by up to 86% through street cleaning and awareness initiatives.
The Great British Spring Clean provides an opportunity for you to make a positive impact on your community, and you can commit to collecting a bag or more starting on February 13.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, the chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, expressed gratitude to passionate and dedicated volunteers like Emdad for eliminating over four million bags of detrimental litter from streets, parks, and beaches.
“We extend our appreciation to Litter Heroes nationwide for taking constructive measures to combat litter and demonstrate their affection for their communities,” she added.
Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, commented, “It is inspiring to witness volunteers actively safeguarding the local environment in communities across the UK, sending a clear message that each of us can contribute to preserving