Britain is faced with a significant litter problem, with over 30 million tonnes of litter being discarded annually. This not only tarnishes the appearance of our communities but also poses a threat to wildlife and necessitates an estimated cleanup cost of £1 billion each year.
Fortunately, the environmental organization Keep Britain Tidy is bringing back its Great British Spring Clean and Great Big School Clean initiatives from 13-29 March. Hundreds of thousands of individuals are expected to participate in these events to help beautify our streets.
What began as a single event in 2016 has evolved into a movement of Litter Heroes who have collectively 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 to take place from 13-29 March. To get involved, visit keepbritaintidy.org and declare the number of bin bags you intend to collect. Whether as a group, an individual, or a school, simply register by providing your name, email address, postcode, and the quantity of bags you plan to pick up.
Last year, close to 400,000 volunteers participated in the annual cleanup, filling approximately 462,000 bags of rubbish. A survey revealed that 95% of participants believed their actions had a positive impact on their local surroundings.
Emdad Rahman, a civil servant and one of Keep Britain Tidy’s 200 Litter Hero Ambassadors, is actively engaged in promoting environmental cleanliness through his Little Litter League program. He emphasizes the importance of education in fostering lasting behavioral changes towards litter disposal.
Other notable supporters of this year’s campaign include Sarah Drakes, sustainability manager at Nestlé Confectionery UK&I, and Rob Edwards, an area coach at KFC UK&I. Companies like Nestlé, KFC, and Mars Wrigley have been longstanding partners in the effort to reduce litter and promote sustainable waste management practices.
The Great British Spring Clean presents an opportunity for individuals to contribute positively to their communities by pledging to collect litter starting from 13 February. Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, expressed gratitude to the dedicated volunteers for their significant contribution to combating litter pollution.
Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, commended the volunteers for their efforts in protecting the environment and highlighted the importance of collective action 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 like KFC UK&I, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Pepsi Max, and Walkers. The initiative also extends to Spring Clean Cymru in Wales and Spring Clean Scotland as part of the broader cleanup efforts.