12 June 2008: Rubbish tips for litter volunteers

Media: 1008

Lewes District Council is supporting the launch of a new website, www.litteraction.org.uk/, which will inform and support volunteer litter-collectors who have, until now, gone largely unrecognised.

Hundreds of unsung heroes across the UK give up their free time to pick up other people’s rubbish.  Formed by charity CleanupUK in conjunction with the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), www.litteraction.org.uk/ provides all the advice and information that a volunteer group needs in order to operate and, at no cost to them, run its own web page to keep its members informed of events and news.  In addition, new volunteers will be able to find their nearest group or even start their own.

Lewes District Council has pledged to help all volunteers by lending them equipment and arranging collection of the bags of litter that volunteers have picked up.

Chris Bowers, Lead Councillor for the Environment at Lewes District Council said “We are delighted to be involved with the local launch of the Litteraction website which will give our community-spirited volunteers the support they need and will make it easy for more people to volunteer.”

CleanupUK Chief Executive, George Monck, explained “The aim of CleanupUK is very simple – it will for the first time unite the estimated 3,000 existing volunteer collecting groups around the UK into an active movement and, by promoting a sense of fun, community and purpose among those who feel strongly about the litter issue, significantly increase the number of volunteers who collect litter. The www.litteraction.org.uk/ website now makes it simple for anyone to get involved in collecting litter which research has shown to be people’s no. 1 environmental concern.”

Ends/

Notes to Editors:

1. www.litteraction.org.uk/ is the brainchild of CleanupUK and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

2. CleanupUK is a charity dedicated to supporting the work of volunteer litter collecting groups and individuals around the UK and to encouraging the formation of new volunteer groups. www.cleanupuk.org.uk/

3. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquility and diversity of rural England. It advocates positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, CPRE has 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.litteraction.org.uk/

4. It costs taxpayers in excess of £500m annually to clear the streets of England, and that doesn’t include parks or other public spaces.

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