7.5 TONNES of rubbish collected in Wiltshire community litter picks
That's saved the Council around ÂŁ32,000 in clean-up costs
More than 7,500kg of litter has been picked up by community litter picking groups across Wiltshire in 2023 so far.
That's the equivalent of 1,270 bags of rubbish and 970 hours of voluntary, while also saving the Council about ÂŁ32,000.
The authority spends more than ÂŁ1.5 million on litter clearance in the county per year.
Litter picking equipment has been provided to town and parish councils and community groups by idverde, in partnership with Wiltshire Council.
The Council is also carrying out regular litter collections on the county’s rural roads and verges, plus the A303 and A36, as the major highways routes through Wiltshire.
Cllr Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Street Scene, said:
“I’d like to thank all the people who are doing their bit to improve their communities by getting involved in litter picks in their local areas. The volume of litter collected and the number of hours that have been donated to this cause is fantastic – though, of course, it would be better if the litter wasn’t there to collect in the first place.
“Most people will dispose of their litter in a responsible way, but there are still those who don’t seem to care about our county, who will throw their rubbish without a care about what happens to it. People can be prosecuted for littering, and our enforcement officers are able issue on-the-spot fixed penalty notices to anyone who is caught. This litter is not only a blot on our glorious landscapes, but also potentially harmful to wildlife and Wiltshire’s environment.
“We have pledged to take responsibility for the environment as part of our Business Plan, and encouraging behaviour change and reducing incidents of littering are key priorities for us. Empowering residents to take part in litter picking initiatives also means that we can spend money on other essential services instead.”