The Great Plastic Pick Up launched by Daily Mail

The Daily Mail is proud to announce a national campaign to get Britain picking up plastic litter.

The Great Plastic Pick Up campaign — organised in conjunction with Keep Britain Tidy — has been endorsed by Prime Minister and Sir David Attenborough.

Britain’s streets, beaches and countryside are suffering from a plague of litter. As Sir David has warned, plastic pollution is turning our seas into a ‘toxic soup’ that’s lethal to wildlife in his recent Blue Planet series.

So on Friday, May 11; Saturday, May 12; and Sunday, May 13, the Daily Mail urges readers to take part in The Great Plastic Pick Up, joining their friends, family, colleagues, schools and communities to tackle this blight.

Endorsing The Great Plastic Pick Up, the Prime Minister said: ‘Plastic waste is one of the great environmental scourges of our time, and this will help communities to make a real difference by encouraging everyone to do their bit to pick up litter in their area.’

Now the Mail’s stepping up its war on plastic with The Great Plastic Pick Up — a weekend where we’re helping communities, schools, families and individuals across the UK come together to clear plastic and litter from our beaches, beauty spots and streets. Wherever you live, you can make a difference by sparing just a few hours to pick up plastic bottles, cans and general litter and dispose of it safely. We’re also calling for schools nationwide to do their part.

It’s so simple to sign up — and you could win amazing prizes worth thousands of pounds that could make a huge difference to your community. What’s more, if you are one of the first 3,000 people or schools to join, we’ll send you a special pack of recyclable litter bags to get you started — so act today.

When is it happening?

The Mail’s Great Plastic Pick Up will run from the beginning of Friday, May 11, to the end of Sunday, May 13. It is a weekend when communities across the country will get together in small groups to pick up rubbish — with a specific mission to remove the plastic that poisons our streets, parks and public areas. Of course we’ll be getting rid of other litter, too — giving the whole country a spring clean in time for the Royal Wedding weekend.

Where Do I Sign Up?

Go to www.greatplasticpickup.org where you’ll find all the information you need. You can either sign up to organise a pick-up or join one already going on in your area. You just need to provide your name, address and email.

Anyone can get involved — no matter how old or young (though children should be accompanied by a responsible adult).

You can also choose to pick up litter on your own if you don’t want to join a group.

Need Equipment?

Helping Hand Environmental have a range of dedicated litterpickers, kits and tools to support the campaign. Please contact our team on 01531 635678 and quote SPRINGSAVERS to receive your discount. Our check out our online shop www.HHEnvironmental.co.uk/shop

 

 

Clean Up Britain launch Now or Never Campaign

A ground-breaking and innovative environmental behavioural change community campaign was launched today in Leamington Spa as part of Clean Up Britain’s project

The campaigning group chosen topic – it’s one most people have no clue about with hard hitting imaginary of animals being hurt or killed by litter. Litter is costing us in more ways than one, the time to act is now – 

The 12 month campaign which has its own dedicated website www.ItsNoworNever.org.uk  will be tackling litter head on, and other important, related topics – single use plastics, disposable coffee cups, fly-tipping and local businesses impact on the environment.

Clean Up Britain will be working closely with Warwick Business School Behavioural Science Group, Warwick District Council, community groups and other supporting partners to test out a variety of campaign approaches and nudges to encourage people to do the right thing.

Watch the video for further details… https://vimeo.com/265726238?ref=tw-share

Follow the campaign via the hashtags #litterkills and #cleanupbritain

 

Renfrewshire’s Street Stuff presented with our sponsored Hero of the Month award

Youth project recognised for helping Keep Scotland Beautiful in Year of Young People.

Street Stuff, a Renfrewshire youth initiative, has been presented with the prestigious Clean Up Scotland ‘Hero of the Month’ award in recognition of its efforts to engage young people in improving the litter, graffiti and dog fouling levels in their own communities.

Part of our Clean Up Scotland campaign the award acknowledges Street Stuff’s work to help reduce youth disorder and to instill responsibility in young people.

Street Stuff volunteers and coaching staff from St Mirren FC have assisted Renfrewshire Council with community clean up activities, including removing graffiti from public spaces and spraying dog fouling with paint to make it more visible – highlighting the problem.

Nicola Perrat (16) said: “Street Stuff gives me the opportunity to meet new people and get involved in activities I wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to. It’s fun taking part in Team Up to Clean Up campaign and I enjoy being able to make a difference to the local community.”

Jay Gibson (16) said: “It’s really important that we keep our local environment clean, tidy and free of litter. Taking part in the clean ups and dog fouling initiatives are fun and it’s good knowing you are making a difference.”

Nicola and Jay, along with other young people from Street Stuff joined us and Cllr Cathy McEwan, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, Gordon Scott, St Mirren FC Chairman, and Lindsay Richmond-Kearns of Helping Hand Environmental at St Mirren Park to be presented with the award. An image from the presentation can be accessed here.

Gordon Scott, St Mirren FC Chairman, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Hero of the Month and it’s testament to the work of the Street Stuff volunteers and staff.

“We’re proud to support the Team Up to Clean Up campaign and will continue to work hard to improve Renfrewshire’s environment for the benefit of the entire community.”

Councillor Cathy McEwan, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “We are delighted that Street Stuff have been named as the 50th recipient of the Hero of the Month Award.

“The work volunteers and staff do to engage local children and provide them with activities they may not normally have the opportunity to undertake is fantastic, and has been extremely successful since its inception in 2009.

“They are making a real difference to the local community through participating in litter picks, removing graffiti from shop fronts and supporting the Team Up to Clean Up dog fouling initiative.

“With £2.5million being invested across the next five years, we hope that many local community groups will be able to follow in Street Stuff’s footsteps as we continue to advance the Team Up to Clean Up campaign and make a tangible improvement to the quality of Renfrewshire’s environment.”

Heather McLaughlin, one of our Community Project Officers added: “High levels of graffiti, litter and flytipping are closely linked to community safety. By helping to tackle litter in their local area, Street Stuff, its participants and volunteers have all helped to make their local area both cleaner and safer for all of its residents.

“Keep Scotland Beautiful recognises that there are armies of volunteers all across Scotland working very hard to clean up and green up their local area. Clean Up Scotland can help to support their efforts as well as recognising the contribution made by individuals with our Hero of the Month award.”

Lindsay Richmond-Kearns, Communities Manager at Helping Hand Environmental, which provides a clean up kit to each monthly hero commented: “We are delighted to present Street Stuff with this award. I would like to commend them for successfully improving and delivering significant local environmental improvements in Renfrewshire.

“Helping Hand has been privileged to sponsor the Hero of the Month award in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful since 2014, and have rewarded 50 Scottish Heroes to date”

Do you know a local Clean Up hero? Why not nominate them for a Hero of the Month award?