Over 30 million tons of litter are discarded in various locations throughout Britain annually. This not only tarnishes the appearance of our neighborhoods but also poses risks to wildlife and requires an estimated £1 billion for cleanup efforts each year.
Fortunately, Keep Britain Tidy’s initiatives, the Great British Spring Clean and Great Big School Clean, are set to return from March 13 to 29. Hundreds of thousands of individuals are expected to participate in these events to help enhance the cleanliness of our streets.
Since its inception as a one-time occurrence in 2016, a group of dedicated Litter Heroes have demonstrated their commitment to their communities by committing to collecting over 4.5 million bags of trash from a variety of locations such as streets, parks, fields, riverbanks, and beaches across Britain.
Scheduled for March 13-29, the Great British Spring Clean invites participants to register at keepbritaintidy.org and select the number of bin bags they pledge to collect. Whether as an individual, group, or school, you can easily sign up by providing your name, email address, and postcode along with your intended bag count.
Last year, nearly 400,000 volunteers engaged in the annual cleanup, filling approximately 462,000 bags with litter. A survey revealed that 95% of participants acknowledged the visible impact of their contributions on their local surroundings.
Among the champions supporting this year’s cleanup is civil servant Emdad Rahman, recognized as one of Keep Britain Tidy’s 200 Litter Hero Ambassadors. Emdad, who leads the Little Litter League to promote environmental consciousness among youth and families, emphasizes the importance of education in fostering lasting change.
In addition to Emdad, other notable figures like Sarah Drakes, sustainability manager at Nestlé Confectionery UK&I, and area coach Rob Edwards from KFC UK&I have been consistent supporters of the Great British Spring Clean. Companies like Mars Wrigley have also played a pivotal role in reducing gum litter through initiatives like the Chewing Gum Task Force.
The Great British Spring Clean presents an opportunity for individuals to contribute positively to their communities by joining the cleanup efforts starting from March 13. Keep Britain Tidy’s CEO, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, expressed gratitude towards volunteers like Emdad for their tireless efforts in removing millions of bags of litter.
Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, commended the volunteers for their dedication to safeguarding the environment and highlighted the importance of collective action in preserving nature.
This year’s campaign is made possible through the support of People’s Postcode Lottery players, media partners Bauer Media Outdoor, Magic Radio, and The Mirror, as well as collaborating partners like KFC UK&I, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Pepsi Max, and Walkers. The Great British Spring Clean also extends to Wales with the Spring Clean Cymru (March 13-29) and Scotland with the Spring Clean Scotland (March 13-April 24).