Bin your litter this World Environment Day (and every day!)

4th June 2021

It’s World Environment Day on Saturday 5 June, and we’re joining Sandwell Council in reminding people to do the right thing and bin their litter every day.

Posters have gone up around Sandwell – including parks – to act as a reminder that dropping litter is an offence and everyone is responsible for helping to keep our borough tidy.

Sandwell Council’s ‘Littering says a lot about you’ campaign was initially launched in September last year, with environmental services partner Serco, as a response to the increases in litter seen during the national lockdown.

The council has relaunched the campaign as the lockdown restrictions lift and more people are out across Sandwell in the summer months.

The anti-littering campaign also comes at a time when the borough’s annual ‘Big Spring Clean’ scheme starts. This community initiative enables residents to undertake litter picking events and help counteract the poor behaviour of those who drop their rubbish.

Councillor Maria Crompton, deputy leader of Sandwell Council said: “Sadly, despite everyone knowing dropping rubbish is wrong, we are still seeing high levels of litter across the borough. Serco cleansing teams are working hard to tidy areas but as soon as they do, more is dropped and the rubbish soon builds up again.

“Our ‘Littering Says a lot About You’ campaign aims to remind people that littering reflects badly on the individuals dropping litter and you can be fined if caught.

“This campaign relaunch also comes at a time we are kicking off our annual Big Spring Clean scheme, which helps people who are fed up with litter louts clean their local area.

‘In theory the Big Spring Clean campaign shouldn’t have to exist as everyone should bin their litter responsibly. Disappointingly we aren’t in that position yet, so we continue to be grateful to the volunteers who want to improve their neighbourhoods and get involved in clean up events.

“We all want to live in a clean and safe environment, and that requires everyone to play their part to help keep Sandwell tidy for us all to enjoy.”

The Big Spring Clean is an annual initiative between Sandwell Council, Serco and Litter Watch and runs until the end of August 2021. Residents, community groups, schools or businesses are welcome to take part. To organise a Big Spring Clean event in your area or make a longer term pledge with the Adopt a Street scheme visit www.sandwell.gov.uk/adoptastreet or contact Litter Watch by emailing volunteer@tiptonlitterwatch.org or calling 0121 557 6970.

You can report dangerous litter by visiting www.sandwell.gov.uk/reportlitter.