Team Wilder Litter Picking

There are benefits to people and wildlife when the neighbourhood is tidy. It encourages a pride in the area, taking responsibility and action to make the streets and public spaces tidy and safe. it encourages others not to drop litter, hopefully. Litter can cause injuries to wildlife if cut, caught or tangled in rubbish.

Many local groups will hold litter picking events, search your area on the map below or locally, via local Facebook groups for example. See the Walborough litter pick picture below.

Check the Community Map for Local Groups

Litter and fly-tipping have a devastating effect on wildlife; Animals get tangled up in packaging and suffocate in plastic bags. Creatures cut themselves on sharp objects. Litter can also damage the dens which animals spend hours making for their families. Litter dropped on land doesn’t stay there. Rainwater and wind push plastic waste into our streams, rivers and drains - which leads to pollution of our beautiful oceans!

If you want to help fight the rising tide of litter and make your own neighbourhood a nicer place to live, why not set up your own litter-picking group? 

Sometimes access to equipment and time availability are barriers.

Nailsea Community Litter Heroes 
found a way around this when not many people were turning up for their monthly litter pick, on the first Saturday of the month, even if the weather was good. 

Sarah, from Barton Hill, spends several hours every week litter picking in her area, and other areas which she accesses on her bike. She is always friendly and cheerful and does it all with good grace and a great sense of humour. She is a lovely kind and compassionate person. She is a character in the best sense.

Sarah often says what she has found – e.g. a horrible knife, a saw and a pair of shoes with the socks still in. She also tells me about conversations and comments she’s had a while doing litter picking. “Someone asked me if they could buy a fag off me!” (Sarah doesn’t smoke). People also say “you’re doing a job” which is nice. Someone asked her if she was doing community service. “Some things people say really make you laugh”.

 Sarah gets frustrated about the amount of litter everywhere, but she makes a difference. She goes out in all weathers and puts her boots on. She enjoys meeting all sorts people and it keeps her fit. I asked her if she notices nature “I see robins and squirrels” she said, “and I notice the blossom coming out”.  Good job Sarah!

South Gloucestershire Council can provide community groups (and individuals) with litter picking equipment, including litter bags all year round. If you litter pick in your community and need more litter bags, or need  litter or waste collected from your site, contact waste.management@southglos.gov.uk.
For large items of fly tipped waste, use the report it page to notify the council. Please include photo evidence and as much information as possible about the item and the location. You can use this page to report a range of issues.

Bristol City Council offer free community litter picking packs. If you have any queries you can contact Bristol Waste Company on:hello@bristolwastecompany.co.uk or call 0117 304 9022.

Bath and North East Somerset Council are working with #NoPlaceForLitter to provide you with everything you need to organise your own community litter pick. You're provided with litter pickers, gloves, high vis vests, bags for litter and an information pack (including advice on running an event, a example risk assessment, a register of volunteers and an agreement form). #NoPlaceForLitter volunteers are experienced litter pickers and will be happy to help with any questions or advice you may have in organising your own event. 

North Somerset Council help organise litter picks as an individual or small group or by joining their Adopt-a-Street scheme. they offer advice about risk assessments, a litter picking checklist and application form. they lend equipment to one group at a time, on a first come, first served basis.