Local Authorities across Essex are taking a unique approach to tackling litter, joining forces with three fast food giants to launch the first ‘Clean Essex Campaign’.
All 14 Essex local authorities, including Uttlesford District Council, supported by Keep Britain Tidy, Essex County Council, RP2 media and The Highways Agency will work alongside McDonald’s, KFC and Domino’s to raise awareness of litter and the risk of fines for those that offend.
The first time a campaign of this type has been run, the drive against litter will see the fast food chains promoting anti-litter messages backed up by local activities and enforcement through the authorities.
In Uttlesford, the district council is supporting the campaign and will be working closely with Stansted Airport and the Highways Agency to ensure the hard-hitting advertising messages are displayed in prominent sites where there is an on-going litter problem of people throwing their rubbish from their vehicles, such as on the A120.
The council will also be encouraging parish councils to organise a number of volunteer litter picking days over the next two months. The first one will take place in Thaxted on Saturday (June 7) at 10am.
Cllr Susan Barker, cabinet member for environmental services at UDC, said: “The Uttlesford district has recently been announced as the best rural district in the country in which to live, as well as the second most desirable place to live in the UK. We are extremely proud of this and want to keep our district beautiful. I would therefore encourage everyone to get behind this campaign.
“I would also hope that after the campaign has finished everyone keeps to the habit of binning their litter or taking it home to dispose of.”
The campaign will see all McDonald’s, KFC and Domino’s franchises across the county taking part and helping to raise awareness.
Cherry Lewis Taylor, from McDonald’s, added: “It’s vital that everyone takes responsibility for tackling litter.
“From local businesses like mine to communities and the residents of Essex – we should all make a commitment to help protect our local environment and keep it clean. Through this campaign, supported by our restaurants’ ‘Love Where You Live’ clean up events and daily litter patrols, we want to generate awareness of the issues, promote education on how best to dispose of rubbish and encourage everyone to act responsibly and pull together. Through our partnership with local authorities and other businesses throughout Essex, I am excited that this type of initiative will really start to make a difference in changing people’s behaviours.”
The Clean Essex campaign has also gained national support with Keep Britain Tidy supporting the joint approach to litter awareness.
Phil Barton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: “The Clean Essex partnership, where local authorities, businesses and communities are working together to tackle the problem of litter, is setting a fantastic example.
“No single organisation, charity or business can solve the problem of litter in isolation and to see all 14 Essex authorities coming together, with support from Essex County Council, McDonald’s and Keep Britain Tidy, to run a campaign across the county is exactly the approach we need to see at a regional and national level.
“The bill for cleaning up litter in England is now close to £1billion a year and this is a price that we can’t keep paying.
“Essex has realised that, by coming together, they can make a difference and we commend them for their leadership and focus.”
• For more information about the campaign visit uttlesford.gov.uk/EssexClean
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