Try litter picking

Your Challenge

As the weather is warming up, it’s a great time to go outside and experience nature. While we’re outside, we can help our local environment by picking up litter. Litter picking is fun – and most people find it hard to stop once they start!

It’s very easy to get started, all you need is:

a pair of thick gloves;
a bin bag (or container); and
a litter picker (which cost around £10).

It’s also handy to have:

a hi-vis vest, especially if you’re near a road; and
a bag hoop, which can hold open bin bags.

If you don’t have a litter picker, you can still pick up rubbish like plastic bottles and sweet wrappers, but always wear gloves and don’t pick up anything hazardous.

Next you need to pick your location:

This could be your street, local park, beach, woodland or other area – it’s up to you! Just make sure that if it’s private land, you seek permission from the landowner first.

Once you’ve filled a rubbish bag:

Place it in the nearest public bin, or take it home and put it in your own bin.
If you intend to collect large amounts of rubbish in several bags, you’ll need to notify the council beforehand so that they can collect it afterwards.

For a step-by-step guide we recommend 'Keep Britain Tidy': https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/volunteer/litter-heroes

Why you're doing this

Litter is harmful to wildlife, people, pets and the environment. For example, small animals can get trapped inside bottles, tangled in plastic, and ingest harmful rubbish. Broken glass can injure people, pets and other animals, and some waste such as vapes can leach harmful chemicals into the environment, causing harm to organisms in the soil. By removing litter you’ll be helping to prevent this harm, as well as keeping your local area looking lovely.

How you'll make a difference

While litter picking, you can help further by recording the quantity and types of litter you find. By recording what you’ve found, your data will help Keep Britain Tidy influence government policy and action on waste. To submit your findings, visit: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/volunteer/litter-heroes

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