Join us for the Big Spring Clean

Once again, we've teamed up with LitterFree Durham & Darlington to urge local residents, community groups, schools and businesses to give their area a spring clean in the annual litter-picking campaign.

This year's Big Spring Clean, will run from 20 February to 17 April and will see litter picks organised across County Durham and Darlington.

'An opportunity to take positive action'

Councillor Mark Wilkes, our cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: "We are pleased to be working with our partners on this worthy initiative. The Big Spring Clean is a fantastic opportunity for our communities to come together and take positive action for the benefit of their area and environment.

"We would encourage as many residents as possible to take part by joining in with one of our many litter picks or organised drop-in sessions. There are many volunteers across the county already, whose passion is making a significant difference to our communities.

"If we can motivate others to join in, we can help ensure County Durham looks its best at all times."

Big Spring Clean events in County Durham

During 2020's Big Spring Clean, more than 2,000 volunteers across County Durham gave up a total of 5,202 hours of their own time to pick litter, with more than 3,000 bags of rubbish being collected.

This year, as well as a number of litter picks, we are hosting a series of drop-in sessions across the county. These will be taking place in the following locations from 10am until 12pm:

• Saturday 4 March: Bishop Auckland Town Hall
• Saturday 11 March: Consett library
• Wednesday 15 March: County Hall, Durham
• Saturday 18 March: Dunes café, Crimdon Dene
• Saturday 25 March: Chester-le-Street library
• Saturday 8 April: Stanhope Community Centre

At each session, volunteers will be able to speak to civic pride officers, ask any questions and pledge to litter pick for an hour each month. Those who sign the pledge will also receive a free set of litter picking equipment to take away.

Our neighbourhood wardens are also arranging litter picks across the county for people to join.

This year's Big Spring Clean also coincides with Keep Britain Tidy's Great British Spring Clean, which runs from 17 March to 2 April and encourages us all to take care of the environment on our doorstep.