Litter Picking
Litter is a huge problem on our streets, roads, riverbanks, in our woods, fields and recreation areas and our seas and oceans.
Litter Volunteers
Each month many of our members take part in a litter pick. We also have one-off events where we tackle litter ‘grot spots’ as a group. Although it’s a never-ending task, picking up litter is a rewarding and therapeutic activity!
Just spending two hours a month means that you are helping to make our surroundings look pleasanter and more appealing, whilst protecting the soil, plant life and wildlife from toxic and dangerous chemicals that leach out of plastic litter in particular. The same chemicals also end up poisoning rivers, seas, oceans and the marine life there – so it’s an all round win-win situation. Volunteers feel they have done their bit for the community and the environment benefits in lots of different ways for example, children and families can enjoy litter free areas to play in.
And dare we say also that Ribble Valley Borough Council benefits too! This is because our labour is used to pick up the litter on the roads and pavements in Read and Simonstone leaving the RVBC litter pickers free to clean up other parts of the highway.
If you would like to help our volunteer litter pickers as a one off, on your own walks, or at a group event please get in touch. We can lend litter pickers, hoops, high vis vests and we have supplies of black refuse bags.
There are risks when litter picking – some from traffic around us and some hazards amongst litter so we can offer helpful advice on how to stay safe whilst volunteering to tidy up the environment.
Please contact us if you would like to help.
Litter on the banks of the River Calder
We are pleased that someone has volunteered to become our River Warden and she regularly inspects the river bank. Unfortunately, when there has been heavy rain the amount of litter deposited on the river banks is unbelievable! When this happens we try to have a “Shout Out” and go down to clear the litter en-masse. However, it is a never-ending task, clearing up the rubbish that arrives from communities upstream. If the litter is not cleared away it will be washed downstream and end up in the seas and oceans causing problems for humans and marine life, fish and sea creatures.
Litter is a problem because:
- It leads to soil, water and air pollution by releasing toxins which affect our health and that of animals. It also affects plants and their survival.
- The run-off water that gets into rivers and seas affects marine life.
- It is a breeding ground for rats and insects and the diseases they carry.
- It’s a fire hazard.
- People and animals can harm themselves due to litter – animals and birds get entangled/trapped and suffocate. The biggest killer of animals and sea creatures apparently is plastic bags as they mistake the litter for food.
- Litter collects on the ocean floor and on the surfaces of oceans. There are garbage patches of varying sizes throughout the world’s oceans. Some of the plastic breaks down into small pieces called nurdles which are eaten by fish and other marine animals. Plastic is now being found in human tissue. There are no long term studies available yet to discover the long term effects on humans.
- If litter is burned it releases toxins into the atmosphere that affect health.
- Litter is an ‘eyesore’ and as such can affect how people feel about the place they live and lead to mental health issues. Litter definitely affects the spirit of a community.
Dropping litter is an anti-social (and unlawful) activity. Although some littering is accidental, most litter is consciously dropped. This means that many people need to change their behaviour for the benefit of other people in their communities and the environment in general. Yes, it’s a local issue but is also a national and international. problem.
Did you know:
- Cigarette Butts are a toxic timebomb.
- They are not biodegradable.
- They can take 14 years to break apart.
- They contain plastic.
- Meanwhile the toxins are seeping into the earth and run off water and end up in the ocean.
Apparently 2.4 Million butts are on our streets and verges at any one time.
So litter pickers of Read and Simonstone grab your heavy duty litter picker with the rubber jaw ends and pick up those cigarette butts! Think of the pollution that you will prevent.