Next week, (Monday 15 April and Sunday 21 April) The Big Spring Clean in the Community takes place with activities all over Stoke-on-Trent for people to get involved with.
Following a successful campaign to clamp down on illegal dumping in our towns, residents, community groups and businesses are being asked to help with a final push to clean-up the city.
Next week, (Monday 15 April and Sunday 21 April) The Big Spring Clean in the Community takes place with activities all over Stoke-on-Trent for people to get involved with.
It follows the hard-hitting IDIOT (Illegal Dumping in Our Town) campaign to crack down on the number of illegal dumping incidents in the city.
The campaign saw environmental services teams’ issue over 1,500 fixed penalty notices and clear 5,186 incidents of illegally dumped waste since January 2023.
In January of this year, fixed penalty notices for anyone found committing environmental crime offences increased to further combat these crimes.
Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement, and sustainability, said: “We are committed to tackling environmental crime in the city and return a strong sense of pride.
“I know from speaking with residents, you are all passionate about where you live, so let’s start with our own streets, our front door steps, or the alleyways that connect us to our neighbours. If you are able to pick up litter and help keep your local area clean, please do.
“Over 20 businesses, community groups, and resident associations pledged their support to make the city a cleaner, greener place during the ‘#LoveSOT’ community clean-up fortnight last year, let’s beat this!
“I also want to take the opportunity to say thank you to each and every person who already walks around their local area picking up litter, we see you and we are grateful for your dedication and passion.”
Richard Buxton, CEO of The BID, has said: "Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID has been holding a City Centre Big Spring Clean in the City Weekend as part of our Operation Sparkle initiative since 2019, so to now have an accompanying Citywide Big Spring Clean in the Community Week is wonderful news! Our City Council works hard to keep our neighbourhoods and green space clean and it's a project we should all support. Our BID staff will be out in our local communities working to tackle the problems of litter & graffiti for that week and I encourage everyone to join us"
Vicki Gwynne, Operations Manager for Middleport Matters has said: “There are lots of fantastic people in the local area who litter pick both with us and independently, who make a big difference in keeping Middleport and Longport looking tidy. It’s a combined responsibility of residents, groups, and the local authority, and there are simple things that people can do to help – litter pick your street, report fly-tipping, take bins in so they don’t blow over, and even more importantly don’t drop litter in the first place.”
Teams from the council’s environment team will also be out and about supporting the Big Spring Clean-up in the Community.
The council also hosts two community re-use paint schemes at both Burslem and Hanford Household Waste Recycling Centres. Residents and community groups are welcome to access this service, where the paint could be used to help spruce up sites around the city, from doorsteps to fences.
Residents who would like to plan a litter pick, or would like to discuss alternative projects should email: environmental.admin@stoke.gov.uk.
For more information, please visit: https://www.stoke.gov.uk/lovesot
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