News / bristol waste company
Local residents and politicians team up for autumn litter picking
Volunteers and councillors from across Bristol, along with various political groups, came together recently for the city’s annual Autumn Litter Blitz.
The campaign, run by Bristol Waste Company, aims to encourage residents to take part in litter picking.
This year’s campaign emphasizes community involvement, encouraging groups of friends, family, and neighbours to join efforts in cleaning up local areas.
The event, attended by lord mayor Andrew Varney, Bristol Waste’s new managing director Richard Williams, and several local councillors, saw volunteers collect 14 bags of waste from streets in Stoke Croft.
This year, Autumn Blitz picked up over 600 bags of waste around the city
Last year, the campaign involved over 250 volunteers who collected 331 bags of litter. This year, the campaign expanded further, with over 350 people taking part in 165 litter picks across the city.
Volunteers spent 2,787 hours picking litter (equivalent to four months) and collected 617 bags of waste, 180 more than last year.
In the past three years, over 1,000 bags of litter have been removed thanks to dedicated volunteers. Bristol Waste provides free kits, including pickers, bags, and hoops, to support these efforts.
Despite various initiatives, such as on-the-go recycling bins and the Big Tidy project, litter remains a persistent issue.
Each day, two million pieces of litter are dropped across the UK, impacting the environment and wildlife. In Bristol, around 3,700 tonnes of litter are collected annually, equivalent to the weight of two SS Great Britains or 300 double-decker buses.
Councillor Martin Fodor, chair of the environment and sustainability committee, highlighted the importance of personal responsibility in tackling litter, encouraging residents to dispose of waste properly.
Lord mayor Andrew Varney also urged people to get involved, noting the benefits of community engagement and cleaner streets.
Dan Kelly, Bristol Waste’s operations director, said: “Collecting litter costs the city around £6 million a year. That’s money that could be used on other important services.
Litter picking volunteers near St Paul’s Learning Centre to bolster Autumn Blitz campaign
“Our street cleansing crews play a big part in making sure that Bristol is clean and green and can be enjoyed by everyone, but the amount of litter is becoming increasingly challenging to clear. Litter picking, putting your litter in the bin, and reducing your waste are all ways you can help us solve Bristol’s litter problem.”
The Autumn Litter Blitz took place from October 18 to November 15.
To book a litter picking kit for free and to find out on how to organise a litter pick, visit bristolwastecompany.co.uk/litterblitz
All photos: Bristol Waste
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