The Hartlepool army which is waging war on litter - and here's how you can join
Members of a group called the ‘Big Town Tidy Up’ have collected everything from abandoned bags of dog dirt to gas canisters.
They have taken 4,000 bags of other people’s rubbish off the streets of the town and they won’t be letting up in their battle for clean streets.
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Hide AdThe band of volunteers has the support Hartlepool Borough Council in their efforts to make a difference and want to get across the message that ‘this is everyone’s fight’.
Group founder Jason Bland, who co-founded ‘Big Town Tidy Up’ with Danny Oram, set it up 18 months ago and it has just topped 1,000 members.
Jason said: “We want to bring a bit of pride back to the town and not look at litter all the time. This is a really positive movement and it is growing.
“Since lockdown, a lot of parents and children have gone out and supported us. We want to do this for the next generation.”
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Hide AdJason and his fellow members have created a group where litter collecting is seen as positive, therapeutic and a chance to make a difference to the community.
Danny told the Hartlepool Mail: “Each day, there are people picking up litter and taking pride in our town.”
On his own litter picks, Danny said he had found ‘laughing gas canisters and sometimes I have found syringes as well.
“People can either sit back and litter streets or they can take ownership, join in and create a pride and a passion in and around the town.
“The council is on board, residents are on board.”
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Hide AdHe and Jason thanked people who had supported the group including Coun Dave Hunter for making a donation to buy litter picking equipment, Garry Jones for litter picking equipment and bags, and Shane Moore for his support in trying to grow the group.
And they urged more litter pickers to come forward.
One of the group’s members Scott Robson, who is back in his hometown while he is furloughed in his job as a sports equipment installer, told how he and his sister had collected five carrier bags of litter in 90 minutes from Seaton beach.
“The main thing we found was wipes which don’t degrade. Everything else was pretty much plastic as well as some metal drink cans.
“It was a red hot day when we did the litter pick and we filled five bags of rubbish. There is no excuse for people dropping litter.
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Hide Ad“People think it is the council’s job but it is everyone’s.”
He said he found the litter on the beach at a time when there were empty bins in Seaton Carew.
Another member of ‘Big Town Tidy Up’ is Russ Carkner who shared photos of his litter picking. They show Russ has found everything from wheel trims to pizza boxes.
Hartlepool Council praised those who litter pick in the town, both those who do it as part of a group and others who volunteer on their own.
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Hide AdA Hartlepool Borough Council spokesperson said: “We are aware that there are many individuals and groups who regularly give up their own time to help protect and improve the local environment and we would like to thank them all for their efforts .
“The Council is currently drawing up plans for a new campaign to tackle the scourge of litter across the Borough, and to try to ensure its success we aim to harness this sense of community spirit.
“We would urge as many people as possible to support the on-going effort to keep Hartlepool as clean and tidy as possible – either by organising their own clean-ups or by simply ensuring that they always dispose of their rubbish responsibly.
“By working together we really can make a difference.”
To find out more about ‘Big Town Tidy Up’ visit the group’s page on Facebook.