Spring Clean 2011

Our annual Spring Clean took place on Friday 4th & Saturday 5th March 2011 • 118 community groups organised two hour litter picks at locations of their choice across the city – this matched the record turnout in 2010 • almost all Oxford’s primary and secondary state schools took part, as well as The Dragon & Headington Schools, Oxford High School Ecology Club, Oxford & Cherwell Valley College, The Oxford Hub of Community Volunteers, Oxford Brookes Student Union • Litter collected by community groups was over 7,000 kg (nearly 1,000 sacks) with a satisfactory ratio of recycling to landfill of 50:50 -- with a further large quantity of scrap and fly tip (347 items) • Further quantities were cleared up by primary and secondary schools • It is encouraging that the amount collected was significantly down on 2010 despite there being more individuals out litter picking.

Reports from community groups and our own observations, suggest that there are three good reasons for this – public awareness of the litter problem has led to an increase in responsible behavior, previous Spring Cleans have made major inroads into litter that had become embedded over the years and the City Council has improved its litter bin provision and street cleaning services. • Awareness of the litter problem was significantly heightened by the large numbers of people taking to our streets and public places - many wearing the 400 + OxClean hi–vis waistcoats • Coverage in the run up to the event and of the event itself by The Oxford Times, Oxford Mail and BBC Radio Oxford added to this awareness • Over 300 ‘Just Cleaned’ signs were displayed at newly picked locations across the city to further build awareness • Having donated 270 litter pickers to community groups in 2010, OxClean now holds a stockpile of 235 litter pickers and over 400 branded hi-vis vests for loan at Spring Cleans and throughout the year • OxClean is aware of a growing numbers of informal community litter picks taking place throughout the year • geographic coverage of the city was good with a pleasing increase in the Cowley area • in addition to local neighbourhoods specific locations tackled included – grotspots; stretches of the Thames and canal; parks; nature reserves; sports fields; play parks; paths along Ring Road and A40; cycle ways; schools; car parks; church yards .