Communities across Bath and North East Somerset are encouraged to join the #BigBagChallenge and pledge to pick up as much litter as possible during this year’s Great British Spring Clean.
The annual campaign organised by Keep Britain Tidy inspires people to join forces to improve the environment on their doorsteps by becoming #litterheroes.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is encouraging all residents to get involved in the campaign which runs from March 25 to April 10, whether it’s filling up one bag of rubbish from their neighbourhood or organising a litter picking event.
This year’s Great British Spring Clean theme is One Bag, Big Difference and highlights that every act to protect the environment, no matter how small, makes a difference.
Volunteer group #NoPlaceForLitter has organised a Great Avon River Pick to support the campaign which will see ten groups litter pick a different section of the river bank, with equipment provided by the council.
Councillor David Wood, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “It’s easy for us to assume that collecting one bag of litter won’t make a difference, but if we all make a small effort it can transform our environment. I’d urge everyone in B&NES to take part in the Great British Spring Clean, whether that’s spending half an hour in your street taking part in the #BigBagChallenge, becoming a volunteer at an event or organising your own litter pick. We’re grateful to the many volunteers and staff who give their time throughout the year to pick litter.
“We want to support cleaner neighbourhoods in every way we can, which is why we’ve put £950k of extra investment this year into cleaner and greener streets. The Clean and Green community action days we are working with communities to organise are another important way that residents will be able to get involved in making B&NES more welcoming.
“One of our priorities for the extra investment is additional enforcement for littering offences. Littering is an unacceptable abuse of our environment and anyone caught doing so could receive a £150 fixed penalty notice.”
To become a #litterhero by joining or hosting a litter pick event in your area register at www.keepbritaintidy.org
#NoPlaceForLitter have a limited amount of equipment they can lend to B&NES residents for volunteer litter picks. For more information and to reserve equipment please email the nearest hub:
Keynsham - womble@transitionkeynsham.org
Radstock - radstockinbloom@gmail.com
Rubbish bags are available for community groups or businesses organising events and the council will arrange to pick up the litter collected. For more information email: cleanup_events@bathnes.gov.uk
Find out more about the council’s extra investment into neighbourhood services.
To find out how you can do more to reduce waste and help address the climate emergency visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/climate-emergency