Important:   Litter can be contaminated, so we have put together some information to help you handle it safely. Please click on this link to have a read through our Health and Safety Guidance before you go out litter-picking.

 

First litter pick of 2018!

Coventry,CV6 5BD

10 Jan 2018

00:00

Litter pick on way to work 11-11.30ish After having a week off with fever, I did my first litter pick of the new year. I was expecting lots of cans and potentially firework remnants from irresponsible drunks and other people who seem to think it's ok to litter. Sadly there were plenty of cans in places but I now have a good technique where I collect all recyclables in my Sainsbury's Bag for Life and then empty it in my work mixed recycling bin :) And I collect all regular other rubbish in a bin bag which I dispose of in a bin at the end of my canal walk. Sadly this week I also saw what looked like intestines (entrails or something) hanging out of a black bin bag which had been dumped on the towpath. When I mentioned it to the Council they instructed me to call the Police ASAP. So I did...

clearly they weren't bothered as the next day on my walk I saw that they had emptied the entire bag and what I thought was internal offal-looking stuff and left it looking even worse than before - they could've taken it away and disposed of it surely! And the Council was more bothered about me calling the Police and telling them I had done so than offering to help with cleaning it up, surprise surprise. Also they told me Coventry City Council is not responsible for litter along the Canal. Seriously. Thanks as always Coventry City Council. And an extra special thanks to West Midlands Police too - clearly littering is not a big deal for them..

upcoming Events

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past Events

Litter pick on way to work

Litter pick with CRT

Coventry Towpath Taskforce: 9.30-12 My very first time joining the Coventry towpath taskforce run by the Canal & River Trust (CRT), I joined a lovely group of volunteers at around 9.40 (the start time...

Talk at local festival

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Litter pick on way to work

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Quick litter pick on way to work

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Litter pick on way to work

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Litter pick on way to work

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Litter pick on walk home from work

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Litter pick on way to work

Litter pick (solo) on way to work I noticed over the past couple weeks a lot of rubbish has gathered in the reeds running alongside the towpath where ducks and moorhens have been nesting/living - plas...

Litter pick on way to work

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Litter pick on way to work

Day 2 of picking this week - I grabbed a bag from home and again just with my gloves began picking part way down the towpath and filled with all the bits of rubbish I had walked by the previous week ...

Litter pick on way to work

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Litter pick on way to work

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Litter pick on way to work

Impromptu pick along the towpath The morning after the Plastic Patrol yesterday (Monday 6th August) - I cannot believe I still managed to find litter. It started with a plastic 4-can cover which led t...

Coventry Canal Plastic Patrol

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Impromptu Litter Pick

Spotted around 10-15 sodden trodden on dirty bags for life on my way to work, quite close to the Canal Basin end today...I probably ought to have taken them to work/home and let them dry/cleaned them...

Impromptu Litter Pick

Saw a pile of plastic bags all in a heap - some were partially filled and some were completely empty! So I thought I would grab these as blackbirds and some other little birds were having around them...

Quick litter pick on way to work

Speedy pick on way to work with gloves (no picker) and a Bag for Life: 11.05-11.30am Did a quick litter pick on the way to work - not stopping for too long or lingering as I was only armed with my glo...

Litter pick on way to work

Pick 11am - 11.50am Filled one big blue IKEA bag today - plenty of rubbish...perhaps Community Payback has finished?? Emptied in litter bin away from towapth in Leicester row car park and informed Cou...

Litter pick on way to work

Friday pick! Let's do this...prepared with my gloves, trusted litter picker (it's short because I am!), ear muffs to keep me warm and a bag of birdseed for the little feathered angels I see along the ...

Litter pick on way to work

Got my litter picker and one blue plastic bag... Decided to just take out a bag and fill it but along the way I came along discarded bags so picked and filled them up too! See photo for the end pick.....

Litter pick on way to work

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Litter pick on way to work

Morning litter pick: 11-11.30am I wasn't expecting to do a litter pick but on my way in yesterday I noticed some inconsiderate folk had scattered their lager cans in front of the sculpture (often used...

Litter pick on way to work

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Litter pick on way to work

Another morning litter pick - 11-11.30am Picked up what looked like a student's notes and an almost entirely unused A4 lined notepad - what a waste! What are they learning?! Some abandoned spray cans ...

Litter pick on way to work

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First Litter Pick!

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Nearby Groups

These groups are near to you in case you want to contact them for advice, to offer them support or, for example, to share equipment with them.

Corfe Mullen/Wimborne
The B roads and public walking routes and fields between Corfe Mullen and Wimborne are becoming dropzones for litter impacting on scenery and wildlife. I regularly pick up litter on walks and encourage others to do likewise. Aim...reduce litter in BH21 and surrounds tok eep our area beautiful.
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Village Action Litter Busters
We are part of the Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath Village Action initiative. We aim to co-ordinate the efforts of local people in promoting awareness of the problem of litter; improving attitudes; and taking part in monthly organised litter picking, with the aim of keeping our villages pleasant and pretty. We know that many residents look after the roadsides and paths adjacent to their own homes and wish to encourage this. Some of our members carry chalk to mark dog fouling on pavements, to help people avoid stepping in it and to tell irresponsible dog owners that they should be clearing up after their pet. Litter picking can be very rewarding, and is an opportunity to get out and make new contacts in the village. Please get in touch if you can help in any way, however small. Please email us if there is any particular area in the village over which you have concerns about litter. In 2012 Nisa - Village Roots in Woodend Road gave us some funds and we have bought some hi-viz vests with 'Volunteer - Village Action Litter Busters' printed on them. We are grateful for their continuing support. South Glos Council support us with sacks, picker sticks and bag hoops. See Upcoming Events for dates and meeting points for monthly litter picks. Please see our gallery below for some pictures of our members, including two younger litter busters!
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13 years
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Purbrook and Widley Area Residents Association (PAWARA)
We periodically organise group litter picks around the Purbrook and Widley areas, including in local woodland. The aim of the Adopt a Grot Spot campaign is for individual residents to tackle litter in areas not routinely cleared by the Council.
1858
20 years
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Rawcliffe Rubbish Ridders
Founded to counteract the ever-increasing amount of litter, dog fouling etc in our village, the group was established independently of the the Parish Council. East Riding of Yorkshire Council provided high visibility jackets, litter sticks, gloves and bags. We meet fortnightly on the village Green although many members (approx 18 at present) also go about as and when they feel inclined! We have not yet enlisted any younger members but this may happen. We would like to have our own "uniform" so that we can be easily recognised and not mistaken for Community Service people!! Our first annual 3Rs bash takes place in the Co-ordinator's garden on Saturday, August 18th. No litter will be left behind!!
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Lady Bay Litter Pickers
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Welton Pickers
We are a small but growing group of volunteers who wish to supplement existing litter removal services and to work with local voluntary groups to clear litter in places not presently served.
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Friends of Temple Ewell & Lydden
Friends of Temple Ewell & Lydden in Kent Downs AONB are looking to create a healthier and cleaner environment which is Litter free. The road side verges of the main road (London Rd, Canterbury Rd & Lydden Hill) is a regular litter hotspot. Please join us while and enjoy our beautiful countryside
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West Rainton Clean-up Team
The Clean-up Team is part of West Rainton Green Group, which was formed in April 2003. We aim to remove litter from paths, bridleways, road verges and other open space in the vicinity of West Rainton, thereby improving the attractiveness of the local area. The work is undertaken by members of the Green Group in their spare time. We organise about five or six events each year, and members of our team also collect litter on an individual basis from time to time when the need arises. Since the start of the project we have collected 100 - 150 bags a year, and attempt to recycle as much as possible, particularly cans and bottles. Prior to each event contact is made with Durham County Council, who provide a truck to remove all the bags that are collected. We have contributed to national and regional environmental programmes such as Community Service Volunteers 'Action Earth' campaign, City of Sunderland's 'Just Bin It' campaign, Litterfree Durham's 'Big Spring Clean' and the ENCAMS 'Big Tidy Up'. Since 2009 we have worked in partnership with Network Rail to clean up a nearby length of disused railway. As well as litter-picking we also alert Durham County Council and City of Sunderland Council to fly-tipping in the vicinity of the village as soon as it happens. Prompt removal has significantly improved the visual appeal of local lanes and paths. About 300 incidents have been reported since 2003.
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Fabulous Litter Pickers - Buckhurst Hill
Buckhurst Hill \"branch\" of the Fabulous Litter Pickers who cover East London! (Wanstead / W\'stow / Leytonstone). Litter picking in Buckhurst Hill (mostly Epping Forest near Palmerston Road to Loughton). We also join the other FAB team in Wanstead occasionally to cover huge areas :)
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Rawmarsh and Parkgate friends of green spaces
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Start a LitterAction group

Here at CleanupUK, we want to help you to take LitterAction! Wherever you live in the UK, forming your own community litter-picking group will help to keep your community safer, more friendly and free of litter. It’s lots of fun too. Why not muck in and join us?

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