An estimated 30 million tonnes of litter are discarded in Britain annually, causing visible pollution, harming wildlife, and costing around £1 billion for cleanup efforts. Fortunately, Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean and Great Big School Clean events are back from March 13 to 29, with hundreds of thousands of participants dedicated to enhancing the cleanliness of our communities.
Since its inception as a one-time initiative in 2016, a group of Litter Heroes have demonstrated their commitment to their surroundings by collecting over 4.5 million bags of trash from various locations such as streets, parks, fields, riverbanks, and beaches across Britain.
The Great British Spring Clean is scheduled for March 13-29. Interested individuals, groups, or schools can register at keepbritaintidy.org to pledge the number of bin bags they plan to collect.
Last year, almost 400,000 volunteers engaged in the annual cleanup, filling approximately 462,000 bags of litter. According to participant feedback, 95% believed their contributions significantly improved their local environments.
Among this year’s advocates is civil servant Emdad Rahman, an inspirational Litter Hero Ambassador supporting Keep Britain Tidy’s cause. Emdad’s efforts include leading the Little Litter League initiative, which encourages youth and families to take pride in preserving the environment through regular clean-up activities.
Sarah Drakes, the sustainability manager at Nestlé Confectionery UK&I, has been a steadfast supporter of the Great British Spring Clean for six years, organizing litter-picking events and promoting environmental consciousness among colleagues.
KFC UK&I and Mars Wrigley have also been long-term partners in the campaign, with initiatives aimed at reducing litter and promoting community cleanliness.
The Great British Spring Clean presents an opportunity for individuals to contribute positively to their communities by pledging to collect litter starting February 13.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, the CEO of Keep Britain Tidy, acknowledges the commitment of volunteers like Emdad in removing millions of bags of litter, expressing gratitude to Litter Heroes nationwide for their dedication to combating littering.
Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, commended the volunteers for their environmental protection efforts, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in preserving nature.
This year’s campaign is made possible by the support of People’s Postcode Lottery players, media partners Bauer Media Outdoor, Magic Radio, The Mirror, and collaborating partners KFC UK&I, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Pepsi Max, and Walkers.