Sheffield bid to clean up its act with litter-picking call from council

As part of Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British September Clean, the council will be offering support to those who want to make a difference to litter levels , part of a national drive on September 11 to 27 to rid communities of litter.

Earlier this year, the council pledged to support the campaign, scheduled for the spring, but the impact of Covid-19 meant that many events could not go ahead.

The council is encouraging citizens to get involved in litter-picking activities whilst adhering to the current guidelines on social distancing, by picking alone or with small groups of like-minded volunteers.

In previous years, hundreds of people have come out in support of the campaign to help change behaviour when it comes to taking responsibility for the environment, many of whom are involved in litter-picking activities all year round.

Council cabinet member for environment, street scene and climate change, Coun Mark Jones, said: “The Great British September Clean is a fantastic incentive to get people talking about the importance of keeping areas clean and taking action by disposing of litter in the right way.

Extinction Rebellion protest

“Litter picking has an immediately positive impact on our neighbourhoods and means we can continue to take pride in the city we all call home.

“In recent months, with more and more people spending time outdoors and enjoying the abundance of green spaces we have here in Sheffield, there has been a notable increase in litter being left by a small minority.

“In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need to spend money or give up valuable time to clear up after others; yet tackling litter continues to be a huge undertaking for already stretched council services, as well as the volunteers who selflessly dedicate their own time to help clean up our streets and parks.”

For more information on how to get involved, including coronavirus safety measures, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org

To find out how litter is managed in Sheffield, visit www.sheffield.gov.uk/cleansheffield

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