Tameside residents are urged to do their bit for the Great British Spring Clean – from organising clean-ups to taking Tameside's Litter Pledge.

Back for its seventh year, the 2022 Great British Spring Clean, organised by Keep Britain Tidy, takes place from 25 March to 10 April with people pledging to pick up as much litter as they can during the campaign.

Tameside Council is offering free equipment, including high vis jackets, litter pickers, gloves and black bags, available for residents or groups to book out. Council officers will then arrange for the rubbish to be collected and disposed of appropriately. 

The council is also calling for residents to do their bit all year round by taking the Tameside Litter Pledge.

The pledge states: “I’m picking up one piece of litter every day! Please join me in this pledge. Let’s make a difference together.”

It’s a simple pledge that everyone can commit to – as well as asking people not to drop litter in the first place.

"If everyone picked up just one piece of litter then it would make a huge difference to maintaining the borough and protecting the environment," a council spokesperson said. 

The scheme aims to develop community pride and involve the whole community in helping to keep Tameside tidy, clean and litter-free.

People are encouraged to get involved by taking a selfie of themselves holding up a copy of the pledge or of them picking up a piece of litter and posting it on social media with the hashtag #Tamesidelitterpledge.

Cllr Allison Gwynne, Tameside Council Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, joined the Friends of the Tame Valley in a clean-up event collecting bags of litter at Shepley Wood in Audenshaw and Jet Amber Fields in Denton.  

She said: “Littering is a blight across the country but we’re encouraging and empowering residents to take pride in their neighbourhood and help protect the environment.

“We’re providing free equipment and will collect and dispose appropriately any rubbish that’s collected by residents taking part in litter picks or the Great British Spring Clean, which I’d urge people to get involved in.

“And the Tameside Litter Pledge is something simple that everyone can join in with – if you see a piece of litter outside your front door, in your street or neighbourhood then please dispose of it appropriately.

“There are already some fantastic voluntary groups across Tameside who meet up to tackle grot spots. The majority of us don’t drop litter, but if everyone did a bit to pick it up then it would really help keep Tameside tidy and make the borough a better place for all.”

To arrange borrowing equipment for litter picks, email littervolunteernetwork@tameside.gov.uk

Read more from the Tameside Reporter

Click here for more of the latest news

Click here to read the latest edition of the paper online

Click here to find out where you can pick up a copy of the paper