More than 30 million tons of litter are discarded in the UK annually, causing visible pollution, endangering wildlife, and requiring an estimated £1 billion for cleanup each year.
Fortunately, Keep Britain Tidy’s initiatives, the Great British Spring Clean and Great Big School Clean, are back from 13-29 March. Hundreds of thousands of individuals are expected to participate in these events, aiming to enhance the cleanliness of our streets.
Since its inception as a one-time event in 2016, a group of passionate Litter Heroes has committed to collecting over 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 13-29 March. To join, visit keepbritaintidy.org, where you can register as a group, individual, or school. Simply provide your name, email, postcode, and specify the number of bags you intend to collect.
Last year, nearly 400,000 volunteers engaged in the annual cleanup, filling around 462,000 bags of litter. A survey revealed that 95% of participants believed their actions significantly improved their local surroundings.
One of this year’s advocates is civil servant Emdad Rahman, a Litter Hero Ambassador supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery. Emdad, known for leading the Little Litter League, emphasizes the importance of educating young people and families about environmental responsibility.
Additionally, Sarah Drakes, sustainability manager at Nestlé Confectionery UK&I, and Rob Edwards from KFC UK&I are among the dedicated supporters of the Great British Spring Clean. Mars Wrigley has also been a longstanding supporter, funding initiatives to reduce gum litter.
The campaign, sponsored by People’s Postcode Lottery and supported by various partners, aims to empower communities to take action against litter. Join the movement starting from 13 February to make a positive impact on your local environment.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, the CEO of Keep Britain Tidy, commended volunteers like Emdad for their commitment to removing millions of bags of litter, promoting cleaner surroundings, and fostering community pride.
Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, expressed admiration for volunteers safeguarding the environment, emphasizing that everyone has a role in preserving nature.
This year’s campaign is made possible by the support of People’s Postcode Lottery players, media partners Bauer Media Outdoor, Magic Radio, The Mirror, and collaborating partners KFC UK&I, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Pepsi Max, and Walkers.