Date issued: 19 March 2019
Colchester Borough Council (CBC) has pledged its support for this year’s Great British Spring Clean run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.
The campaign, which runs from March 22 to April 23, will see up to half a million people acting to clean up streets, parks and beaches across the country.
The Great British Spring Clean brings together individuals, community organisations, businesses and councils to make a difference to the environment on our doorstep, and in 2018 around 370,000 #LitterHeroes collected more than 630,000 bags of rubbish.
Last year, ward councillors and Colchester Borough Council’s Zone Wardens joined community groups and residents to pick up litter within the borough. A total of 16 organised litter picks took place. Over the campaign, 2763 kilograms of litter and waste were collected – mostly consisting of bottles, wrappers and plastic bags.
Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton said: “The Great British Spring Clean is an opportunity for the millions of people who care about the environment on their doorstep to do something positive that will make a visible difference.
“We are delighted that CBC 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.”
CBC is encouraging all Colchester-based community groups or individuals who sign up to support this year’s Great British Spring Clean to contact communities@colchester.gov.uk. CBC’s Zone Wardens will then ensure enough clear sacks are available for litter picks and will organise for the collection of sacks after each event.
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder Waste, Environment & Transportation, said: “Keeping Colchester free of litter is something we can all contribute towards. I am pleased we are supporting this campaign again this year, particularly with the focus on separating the litter ready for recycling.
“If we all chip in, we can make a difference and make a Better Colchester. I will of course be rolling my sleeves up and arranging events myself!”
This year’s campaign will not only see tonnes of litter being removed from the environment on our doorstep, it also aims to rescue thousands of the plastic bottles and aluminium drinks cans that are simply thrown on the ground but could, very easily, be recycled.
Using the ‘three bags full’ approach, volunteers will be asked to separate the litter they pick into three bags: one for plastic bottles; one for aluminium cans and a third for the rest of the rubbish.
CBC will then collect these bags to ensure that they are recycled appropriately.
To find out more about the Great British Spring Clean visit www.keepbritaintidy.org
Page last reviewed: 19 March 2019