More than 30 million tons of litter are discarded in the UK annually, causing environmental and financial consequences. The cleanup cost is estimated at around £1 billion per year, impacting wildlife and communities negatively.
The Great British Spring Clean by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy is set to return from March 13th to 29th. The initiative, including the Great Big School Clean, will see hundreds of thousands of individuals participating to enhance the cleanliness of streets and public spaces.
Originating as a one-time event in 2016, the movement has evolved significantly with Litter Heroes collecting over 4.5 million bags of trash from various locations like streets, parks, and beaches across Britain.
Scheduled for March 13-29, the Great British Spring Clean invites participants to register on keepbritaintidy.org and commit to collecting any amount of litter they can. Whether as a group, individual, or school, volunteers simply need to provide basic details and specify the number of bags they aim to collect.
In the previous year, nearly 400,000 volunteers engaged in the annual cleanup, amassing approximately 462,000 bags of waste. A survey revealed that 95% of participants observed a tangible improvement in their local surroundings post-cleanup.
Among the advocates for this year’s campaign is Emdad Rahman, a civil servant and Litter Hero Ambassador supporting Keep Britain Tidy. Emdad’s efforts include running the Little Litter League, an initiative promoting environmental consciousness among young individuals and families through regular litter-picking activities.
Joining Emdad are other dedicated individuals like Sarah Drakes, sustainability manager at Nestlé Confectionery UK&I, and Rob Edwards, an area coach at KFC UK&I, who have been actively involved in the Great British Spring Clean for several years.
The campaign has received sustained support from companies like Mars Wrigley and KFC UK&I, emphasizing the importance of responsible waste management. Mars Wrigley particularly funds the Chewing Gum Task Force, contributing significantly to reducing gum littering nationwide.
The Great British Spring Clean offers an opportunity for community members to make a positive impact by pledging to collect litter starting from February 13th. Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, commended the efforts of volunteers and urged more people to join the cause.
Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, praised the volunteers for their dedication in preserving the environment, emphasizing the collective responsibility in conservation efforts.
The success of this year’s campaign is made possible by the support from People’s Postcode Lottery players, media partners Bauer Media Outdoor, Magic Radio, The Mirror, as well as collaborating partners like KFC UK&I, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Pepsi Max, and Walkers.