Can you help keep Britain tidy by pledging to collect one bag of rubbish for the Great British Spring Clean?

South Lakeland District Council is encouraging people to pledge to do their bit for the Great British Spring Clean 2022 which starts this Friday, March 25.

Councillor Dyan Jones, South Lakeland District Council portfolio holder for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “It is always great to welcome back the Great British Spring Clean for another year.

“Litter-picking is a very worthwhile activity with many benefits, such as making where we live safer and more attractive; getting out and exercising in the fresh air; and feeling more connected to your community.

“In the past two years our outdoor spaces have mattered to us more than ever before as people have embraced them during the pandemic and councils like South Lakeland District Council have often had a battle to keep our popular beauty spots clean and green.

“We hope people across South Lakeland will harness the power of collective action and take on this year’s #BigBagChallenge.

“Whether it’s pledging to pick one bag or more, we can carry out small acts of kindness for our planet and ourselves, together.”

This year’s campaign run by Keep Britain Tidy (25 March to 10 April) calls on families, neighbours, friends and colleagues to join forces and pledge to pick a bag of litter from nearby streets, beauty spots and beaches in order to protect our communities and precious wildlife habitats.

South Lakeland District Council can support you by loaning equipment such as litter pickers and hi-vis jackets as well as supplying rubbish sacks and arranging for its Street Scene crews to collect the filled bags afterwards.

This will be the sixth year the council has supported the Great British Spring Clean, run by Keep Britain Tidy.

The aim for 2022 is the #BigBagChallenge where people are being encouraged to pledge to pick up as much litter as they can during the campaign, even if it’s just one bag.

Councillor Philip Dixon, South Lakeland District Council portfolio holder for Customer and Locality Services, added: “Keeping South Lakeland clean and tidy costs the council and local taxpayers a staggering £1.1 million each year, and in 2020/21 our crews collected 3,464 tonnes of waste from litter bins and street cleansing.

“It is important that we all take pride in where we live.

“We live in such a beautiful area, including parts of two National Parks, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, and we want to do everything we can to protect these wonderful surroundings for generations to come.”

If you would like to arrange to borrow litter-picking kit from South Lakeland District Council or to have your filled rubbish bags collected, email:locality@southlakeland.gov.uk

To find out more about the Great British Spring Clean and make your pledge, visit:www.keepbritaintidy.org/gbspringclean