More than 30 million tons of litter are discarded in various locations across the UK annually. This not only creates a visible eyesore in our communities but also poses a threat to wildlife and costs an estimated £1 billion each year for cleanup efforts.
The positive news is that Keep Britain Tidy, an environmental charity, is bringing back the Great British Spring Clean and Great Big School Clean initiatives from March 13 to 29. During this time, hundreds of thousands of individuals will join forces to enhance the cleanliness of our streets.
Originally launched as a one-time event in 2016, a group of dedicated volunteers known as Litter Heroes have demonstrated their commitment by pledging to collect over 4.5 million bags of litter from various locations such as streets, parks, fields, riverbanks, and beaches across Britain.
The Great British Spring Clean is scheduled to take place from March 13 to 29. Interested participants can sign up now at keepbritaintidy.org and commit to collecting any quantity of refuse they desire. Whether as a group, an individual, or a school, simply provide your name, email address, postcode, and the number of bags you intend to pick up.
Last year, almost 400,000 volunteers engaged in the annual litter clearance, resulting in the filling of approximately 462,000 bags of rubbish. According to a survey conducted among participants, 95% believed that their contributions significantly improved the appearance of their local areas.
Among the notable supporters of this year’s campaign is Emdad Rahman, a civil servant and one of Keep Britain Tidy’s 200 Litter Hero Ambassadors. Emdad, funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, is actively involved in the charity’s national advertising efforts for the Great British Spring Clean.
Emdad oversees the Little Litter League program, which aims to instill a sense of environmental pride in young individuals and their families. He coordinates regular litter-picking sessions and emphasizes the importance of education in fostering lasting behavioral change.
Emdad stated, “I believe in the power of individual action, and that’s why I am committed to making a difference through my efforts. By addressing the litter issue, we take responsibility for solving it.”
He is joined by other dedicated individuals like Sarah Drakes, the sustainability manager at Nestlé Confectionery UK&I, who has been supporting the Great British Spring Clean for six years. Sarah has organized litter-picking events for employees and promoted participation across the company’s York site.
KFC UK&I has been a longstanding partner of the campaign, with area coach Rob Edwards ensuring that their teams participate in the annual Spring Clean to maintain cleanliness in the communities surrounding KFC outlets. Similarly, Mars Wrigley has been a loyal supporter for nearly a decade, funding the Chewing Gum Task Force to reduce gum litter nationwide.
Thanks to the initiative, gum littering has decreased by up to 86% through a combination of street cleaning and awareness campaigns. The Great British Spring Clean provides an opportunity for community members to contribute positively by committing to collecting a bag or more of litter starting from February 13.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, the chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, expressed her gratitude to volunteers like Emdad for their significant contributions in removing over four million bags of harmful litter from public spaces. She commended Litter Heroes nationwide for their efforts in combating litter and demonstrating their love for their communities.
Laura Chow, the head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, commended the volunteers for their dedication to protecting the environment, highlighting the impact of collective action in preserving nature.
This year’s campaign is made possible through the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, media partners Bauer Media Outdoor, Magic Radio, and The Mirror, along with supporting partners KFC UK&I, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Pepsi Max, and Walkers.