Thousands of dedicated volunteers are expected to head out on litter picks in support of Renfrewshire’s Big Spring Clean, part of the council’s award-winning Team Up to Clean Up campaign.
Running from 17 April to 14 May, local people will be supported to make a difference to their environment by taking part in litter picks in towns and villages across the area, with the council providing equipment and clearing the collected rubbish.
Previous events have seen thousands take part across a month of action, with the campaign’s sister event Spotless September having more than 1,200 people take part in 338 clean ups last year – more than 11 every day.
This year, council officers will again visit schools to speak to pupils about littering and the impact it can have on the environment, and a pilot will be launched which will add additional bins on busy school routes for a period of time with the aim of reducing the amount of lunchtime litter by encouraging positive behaviour change.
Dog fouling will also be on the agenda as local dog owners are encouraged to ‘Take the Lead’. Owners will be provided with a new lead, a collar light for night-time walks, and a poo bag dispenser to allow them to be ambassadors for the campaign and encourage behaviour change across Renfrewshire.
Councillor Michelle Campbell, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “I’m delighted to see the return of the Big Spring Clean as it’s a shining example of what we can do when we work together with our communities.
“Thousands of volunteers have come together at these events in the past to make a positive difference to where they live and I’m looking forward to the same again this year too.
“We’ll be visiting schools once again to talk to them about the need to look after our environment and the new bin pilot aims to change the ingrained behaviour that they can throw things away and not use a bin.
“If you want to tidy up a part of your neighbourhood then get in touch and our team can provide you with equipment, support and clear the bags away afterwards, and you can invite other like-minded people to join you from our Facebook group which has more than 4,000 members.
“It’s amazing the difference that volunteers can make when combined with our work as a council so let’s keep working together to make Renfrewshire a cleaner, nicer place to live, work and visit.”
To request equipment, call 0300 300 1375, email wardens.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk, join the Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/teamuptocleanup or visit the Council website at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/BigSpringClean.