The Campaign to Protect Rural England is, once again organising a country wide litter pick (called Green Clean) to gather evidence to highlight the urgent need for a deposit return system that includes drinks cans, plastic and glass bottles, cartons and pouches of all sizes. Last year, litter pickers collected hundreds of bags of litter and over 11,000 drinks bottles and cans, of all shapes, sizes and materials. This evidence contributed to making the case to former Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, who recently gave his backing to an ‘all-in’ system, stating that, ‘an “all-in” model will give consumers the greatest possible incentive to recycle’. With a new Environment Secretary now in post, CPRE want to demonstrate that the problem still persists and urge the new Secretary of State to pick up where her predecessor left off.
Litter-Free Purbeck are joining in the campaign and the Wareham Wombles were first off the blocks separating drinks containers for counting at their September pick. A total of eight bags of rubbish were collected and these included:
62 plastic bottles, 128 cans, 18 glass bottles and 4 tetra-pac style cartons. (about 30% of the total volume).
Next out will be Swanage Landers, who will meet at 09:15hrs and 13:45hrs on Friday 27 September & 09:15hrs and 13:45hrs on Saturday 28 September at the Main Beach Car Park, Victoria Avenue, Swanage, BH19 1PW. Following a short safety brief, we will then be out and about, working on a number of roads, pavements & sites across the Parish until gathering again at the meeting point to consolidate their pickings. (Please note that Frank is unable to lead the Saturday 13:45hrs session, so is looking for a keen volunteer to stand in for him: please email frank@herstoncross.co.uk )
Love Langton will also be litter picking this month as part of the Green Clean. If you’d like to help, please contact Bridget Mayes via lovelangton@gmail.com, as timing is flexible on this. (The group will be going out again in November on dates to be confirmed but most likely on Thurs, Fri, Sat, 7th, 8th, 9th November so that the village is tidy ahead of Remembrance Day Commemorations on Sunday 10th. Confirmation will follow.)
