Combat Local Litter Problems
To contact Encams for more information write to:
Encams
National Campaigns
Elizabeth House
The Pier
Wigan
WN3 4EX
Tel: 01942 612628
This information tells you how to organise a successful litter clean up in your local area.
Guidelines
Follow these step-by-step guidelines and you will be assured of holding a well-organised, successful and enjoyable event.1. Pinpointing Your Clean Up
Decide where you would like to do your litter pick. You could clean up and enhance a local landmark, or take action on a well known 'grot spot'. Always get permission from the landowner for your activities. If you wish to litter pick on council owned land, you will have to ask permission well in advance of your event as the process for approval may take some time.
At an early stage, decide on the arrangements for removal of the waste at the end of your event. Usually your council will help by collecting the rubbish or providing a skip. If you are removing it yourself, ensure you are able to dispose of it at your local civic amenity site (i.e. the council 'tip'). If a commercial waste company is collecting the waste or delivering a skip, they will make a charge and want to know what the waste comprises.
How will you carry out your clean up? It could be a straightforward litter pick or you could have a theme or set a challenge. Think of ways to make your event as much fun as possible. Should refreshments be provided? As a rallying point for the event, choose a well known spot which will be familiar to everyone.
2. Risk Assessment
Having chosen a place for your clean up, visit the site and carry out a full risk assessment. This is a careful examination of the possible risks that could cause harm to you or your volunteers. When assessing the risks, look for the following hazards:
Unidentified cans or canisters, oil drums, poisons, insecticides, clinical waste, other hazardous substances, broken glass, condoms, syringes, etc.
Deep or fast flowing water, dangerous currents or tides, steep, slippery, or unstable banks, sharp rocks, mud holes, derelict buildings, electric fences (which are identified by yellow warning signs), etc.
If the area carries too many risks for you and your group, choose somewhere else.
3. Getting Help
The Cleansing or Environmental Health Department of your local council should be able to offer support by providing litter picking gadgets, refuse sacks, gloves and they may provide a skip at your event. If making your own arrangements to get the litter you’ve collected off site, take their advice on where to legally dispose of the waste.
Target local companies who may be able to support your clean up by providing materials, services or donation. For example, fast food restaurants may be able to supply refreshments and supermarkets might donate bin bags.
4. Community Involvement
You may already be part of a group wishing to do a clean up. If so, involve them at the planning stage and make it a real team effort.
If you are planning a large scale clean up perhaps you could drum up support from other groups in your area: schools, Scouts and Guide Groups, Civic Society, the Round Table, Rotary Clubs, Tenants’ Association and environmental groups are just a few of the many who could be interested in making an impact on their local environment.
A clean up, to be successful, needs to involve as many different sectors of the community as possible:
Approach local residents either by leafleting, calling at homes, or through a residents' group.
Put up posters in local shops or supermarkets, on community notice boards, in libraries, community or leisure centers, Citizens Advice Bureaux, schools and on church notice boards.
Send out a press release to your local media well in advance of your event, giving details of whom to contact and how people can get involved.
Contact your local council to see if they have a volunteer bureau, or your local Community Volunteer Service who can help find volunteers and offer advice.
5. Equipment and Preparation
Depending on the nature, type and size of your event, the following arrangements may have to be made and equipment organised prior to your clean up. Your local council will be able to help you with some of the following:- Equipment needed could include litter-pickers, bag holders, heavy-duty gloves, refuse sacks, wheelbarrows, skips, vehicles for larger items, rakes and shovels.
- Broken glass, sharp metal, etc. will break through refuse sacks and may cause injury. Have safe containers for their collection if you are removing this type of litter.
- For any scale of clean up event, have a first aid kit and antibacterial wipes (remember to let your volunteers know who is the first-aider).
- For a large scale event you could contact your local ambulance service or voluntary first aid organisations, such as the Red Cross and St John Ambulance for advice. They may even be able to provide cover and assistance.
- If you are likely to come across hypodermic needles or drug-related litter, have a contact number for the council who will organise a rapid response service for their removal. Do not touch these yourselves.
- A skip or other means or efficient removal of collected rubbish after your event is useful.
- If supervisors need to stay in touch, mobile phones or walkie-talkies will be required.
- Arrange specialist help such as the council, police, fire brigade, armed forces or a professional company if clearing abandoned cars or heavy objects.
Protective Gear And Equipment
Make a list of useful equipment and work out who will provide what. Check if any volunteers can provide their own equipment. If you wish to purchase equipment, sturdy litter pickers and protective gloves can be obtained from the Helping Hand Company. For more information contact:Helping Hand Company
Bromyard Road Trading Estate
Ledbury
Herefordshire
HR8 1NS
Tel: 01531 635678
Fax: 01531 635670
Preparations
As organizer, you will have visited the site and done a risk assessment before the event. It may be helpful to make a sketch map of the area to be tackled. Note where the skip or litter collection points should be. If you are expecting a large number of people you may also want to identify a 'lost and found' point and a first-aid point. Mark on the map the location of any toilets, the nearest public phone and any other useful amenities such as cycle or car parks, bus stops or train station. You might also note places where you could shelter from the rain if the weather turns against you. This map can then be used on the day to show different groups where they should be working, the set up for the day and the facilities available.6. Informing, Instructing and Organising
All volunteers will need to be informed and instructed prior to the event. Depending on the nature, size and type of your event, this may include:- Health and safety risks (these will be determined by the risk assessment carried out and the risks identified).
- Precautions to prevent these risks and how to protect against them.
- How to use any equipment provided.
- The agreed routes and event procedures.
- Where and what time to meet.
- Advise volunteers in advance to dress for the occasion. Strong, comfortable boots or shoes will be needed; perhaps also warm, waterproof clothing and headgear. Gloves are essential if litter picking by hand. Fluorescent arm bands or clothing should be worn if working in poor light or anywhere near traffic.
- Location of toilet facilities and refreshments (depending on the length of your event).
- First aid arrangements.
- The location of the nearest telephone or access to a mobile phone.
7. Publicity
Use a press release to obtain media coverage for your event.Take before, during and after photographs of your event to send to your local press if they do not turn up.
You could make your litter pick fun by organising a fancy dress theme, or by setting challenges to see how much litter can be collected in a given time or who can collect the largest or most unusual piece.
8. Sponsorship and Funding
This largely depends on the type of event that you have in mind and whether you wish to continue your environmental work after your clean up.
You could approach local companies to help provide the necessary equipment for your event, or to sponsor a litter bin with their name on. You will need to contact your local council for help to install and service a litter bin in a public place.
See the ‘Useful Addresses’ at the bottom of this factsheet for details of grants and awards that are available to groups.
Fundraising events could be organised, e.g. aluminium can collection, car boot sale, environmental fair, auction or a jumble sale to raise funds for future events.
9. Avoiding Danger Is All Important
Hazardous Waste
Make sure everyone is aware of potentially dangerous items which they should not pick up. If nasty or dangerous pieces of litter such as unidentified drums, cans or canisters of chemicals, poisons or insecticides, or if syringes are spotted at any stage during your litter pick, do not attempt to move them yourself. Make a note of their location and inform your local council.Natural Dangers
Avoid holding your litter pick near potentially dangerous places such as steep or slippery banks, fast flowing water or derelict buildings. Line pins and tape can be used to section off any potentially dangerous areas. For a large operation, a loud hailer could be useful to warn participants to stay within the designated area.Natural Dangers
Take particular care of children and don’t attempt too much. Consider the ages of the children involved in your clean up and make sure that a sufficient number of adults are present to supervise. In the case of young children we advise no more than four children to one adult.
Before you clean up, make sure children understand which items are potentially dangerous and should not be picked up. Warn them not to pick up any items that very young children may not heed your warnings. Don’t let children attempt to pick up heavy or bulky items. Ensure that they have adult help for any weightier tasks.
If you are working anywhere near roadways, canals, rivers or ponds, make sure that there are responsible people specifically to keep an eye on safety. Don’t allow children near such areas.
With children do no more than a one hour stint. If only adults are involved, attempt only what is within everyone’s capacity and allow for rest breaks. Two to three hours of litter picking is usually enough unless you’re extremely dedicated.
Working Near Water
- Liaise with the appropriate bodies, e.g. Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, local water companies, and lifeguards to check whether there are any possible hazards.
- Encourage boat owners and canoeists to use their boats to get to awkward areas.
- Do not plan the clean up near deep mud, steep, slippery or crumbling banks, or polluted water.
- Check depth of water if possible, as well as times of tides and fluctuations of flow.
- Ensure that non-swimmers and children keep away from the water’s edge.
- Ensure that there is a trained lifesaver present.
- Make sure all participants wear waterproof gloves.
- Ensure that people wearing waders are accompanied by a partner with a safety line.
Working near Roads and Lay-Bys
Initially, restrict groups to work on footpaths and verges in areas with a 40mph speed limit and below.Ask volunteers to wear fluorescent armbands, and exhibit warning signs at either end of the stretch of road while work is in progress.
Other Dangers
Giant Hogweed is an 'injurious weed' and can cause harm to people and animals. Great care should be taken when working near this weed and it should not be touched at any time. Seek immediate medical advice if skin comes into contact with the weed and irritation, rashes or blistering occurs.
Weil’s Disease (Leptospirosis) is a very rare infection carried in rate urine and can be fatal. The symptoms include high temperature, severe headaches, flu-like illness or muscle pains. They will appear three to 19 days after exposure to contaminated water. It must be treated early.
If you discover flytipping, see someone flytipping or come across dumped or hazardous waste report it to the Environment Agency on their 24hr Hotline. Tel: 0800 807060.
10. On the Day
Appoint an event co-ordinator who will:- Brief on emergency procedures
- Organise volunteers into teams
- Distribute and collect equipment
- Specify where rubbish should be left
- Collect survey forms (if used)
11. Be Considerate
If you are working in the country, parks, woodland or open spaces avoid disturbing animals or damaging plants. Keep gates closed and don’t clean up natural 'rubbish' such as logs, stones and weeds. They may look untidy but they are home to animals and birds. Before you clean up, get some advice from an expert; your local council may be able to give you a contact name, phone 01522 544400 for details of your local branch of the Wildlife Trust or visit the website www.wildlifetrusts.org. Make sure that your activities don’t interfere with people in the vicinity who are not involved in the litter pick. In particular, tell volunteers not to go on other people’s property.12. The Result
Note the amount of rubbish collected. You can do this by weight, sack or skip load. Make a note of any unusual items found. You could also record your progress by taking before, during and after photographs of your clean up. These facts and photographs can be used to record and report back on your event.Other Issues to Consider
Recycling
It’s good practice to recycle the litter you’ve collected, if at all possible. Contact the Recycling Officer at your local council for advice on whether certain materials should be collected separately, where they should be taken on how they should be disposed.Hygiene
All participants should wear gloves. Hands should be washed before and after handling litter. Do not eat or drink without washing hands thoroughly beforehand.Insurance
Obtaining Public Liability Insurance is very important and not very expensive. This will provide cover for your legal liability arising from accidental damage or injury that occurs during the event, including damage or injury to a member of the public or their property.
If you represent an organisation such as a local council or school it is possible that you already have insurance in place, but it is important to check that litter picks/activity is covered under such insurance. If not, a suitable extension should be made to the policy. If you are unable to obtain public liability insurance for your event please contact Lisa Paul at Endsleigh Business Insurance Services Tel: 01242 866 800 (ext 6804).
Contacting the Media
Clean ups can be excellent community events and make great local stories. Make your clean up imaginative and let your local media know what you are doing - after all you deserve some recognition! Read the following guidelines and send the Diary Date a week before your event.Target your Media
Contact the news desk of your local newspaper, radio or television station to cover your story - you can get the contact number from the Yellow Pages or Directory Enquiries. Let them know at least one week before the event so that they can put the date in their diary. Then contact them a day before to remind them of your event.
If you need help, the public relations department or press office at your local council may be able to give you some advice or useful contacts.
Ensure that your event is at a convenient time for the media. Photo-calls in the morning are preferable so deadlines can be met for evening newspapers or broadcasts.
Provide the media with an interesting angle to ensure that your story is covered. Make sure you let the media know:
- Who is taking part
- When your activity is taking place
- Where you are cleaning up
- Why you chose that particular location
- What is interesting, unusual or unique about your event
- How you are going to do your clean up.
Stealing the Headlines
Different newspapers, television or radio programmes cover many kinds of stories. It is important to emphasise different aspects of your event to the different types of media.Permeating the Press
What kind of stories do your local newspapers run? Are they fun stories, serious articles or do they generally focus on community activities? Now sell your event to them accordingly, by adapting your story to suit their tone.
If you are arranging a photo-call, research the kind of photographs used in the publication. Participants wearing tabards, carrying unusual items of litter, always make for lively photographs.
Make sure you know the frequency of the newspaper and which areas it covers. If it is a weekly newspaper that comes out on a Thursday, their deadline is often early Tuesday morning, but it is better to contact them on Friday, especially if you have a photograph. You may want to plan your event to suit as many different types of media as possible.
Brush up on the Broadcast Media
Before doing your radio or television interview, check whether it is going to be live or recorded, and whether anyone else is going to be interviewed. If they decide to interview someone else as well, find out who it is going to be - they may try to make the story controversial.
A key to interview success is to think of a maximum of three, most important points you want to put across.
Speak clearly and slowly and try to forget the microphones - just imagine you are having a normal conservation. It is difficult, but the more relaxed you sound, the better the interview will be. Avoid reading from a script, as it sounds unnatural.
Remember television stations will require an impressive visual event for their story, whereas radio journalists prefer good audio sound effects to create an atmosphere. Why not ask your local MP to come along and support your event?
Publicity after the Event
If the media did not manage to cover your event, why not send them the details of how your event went - how much litter was collected? How many people took part? A good photograph would also be useful.
Remember - an unusual event, celebrity participation, a good photo opportunity, or a worthy news story is more likely to be used by the media.
Further Information and Contacts
Encams provides an excellent range of specialist information, advice, technical know-how and materials on all aspects of litter and waste and much more.
The following materials are available from the Encams website www.encams.org.
- Litter Quick Facts
- Litter In The Environment
- Guidelines For Businesses
- Litter Bins
- Guide For Organising Clean Ups
- No Fly Tipping
- Fixed Penalty Fines
- Waste Collection
- Waste. A Duty Care
- Mass Balloon Releases
- Follow The Litter Code
- Litter: Organising A Clean Up
- Litter And The Law
- Your Rubbish And The Law
- Dog Fouling Brochure
For further information or to order any of the above materials, please contact the Information Executive Officer on 01942 612655.
Refuse Sacks
British Visqueen LimitedYarm Road
Stockton-on-Tees
Cleveland
TS18 3RD
Tel : 01642 672288
Fax : 01642 664295
Other Equipment
Your local district or borough council may provide refuse sacks, litter pickers, gloves, skips and arrange for the collection of litter after your event.Litter Bins
ENCAMS has a comprehensive list of litterbin manufacturers, including novelty bins and talking bins. For a copy of this list, contact the Information Executive Officer on 01942 612655.Useful Addresses
(England and Wales):Environment Agency
Rivers House
Waterside Drive
Aztec West
Almondsbury
Bristol
BS12 4UD
Encams
National CampaignsElizabeth House
The Pier
Wigan
WN3 4EX
Tel: 01942 612628
Volunteering
The Volunteer Centre UKCarriage Row
183 Eversholt Street
London
NW1 1BU
Tel: 020 73889888
Nature Conservation
The Wildlife TrustsThe Green, Witham Park
Waterside South
Lincoln
LN5 7JR
Tel : 01522 544400
