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Anti-litter initiatives

Community cleanup guidelines

Contents

Introduction

A Community Cleanup is a great way of showing that your group cares about its local area and will also encourage others not to litter and to take pride in where they live.

This information sheet will give you advice on how to undertake a cleanup safely. It also provides tips on how to encourage others to get involved and maximise publicity for your efforts.

We will help you by lending you equipment and arranging for the collected litter to be removed. But your cleanup can only be a real success through the efforts of your community.

We hope that this information will help you have a safe, successful and enjoyable event.

Planning ahead

Where are you going to clean up?

You could clean up your local area, a local landmark or take action on a well-known ‘grot spot’. Remember that you need to get permission from the landowner for your activities.

If you are planning to carry out a clean up in one of our parks or open spaces you need permission from us. Email [email protected] to discuss your plans. You will need to provide us with a copy of your risk assessment and public liability insurance.

How will the waste be removed after the event?

Clear bags of recycling must be taken to the local recycling centre (HRC) by the group. Ensure you use the correct container, there is a separate one for plastic bottles and a separate one for aluminium cans.

Be aware that we can only collect bagged litter picked items, so large bulky items or garden waste cannot be collected.

Contact our Community Awareness Team by emailing [email protected] or calling 028 9027 0230 at least one week before your cleanup to arrange for collection. If you recover bulky household items during your cleanup (like mattresses or furniture) call our contact centre on 028 9027 0230 and we can arrange for this to be collected free of charge.

How will you do it?

Will the cleanup be a simple litter pick or will you have a theme or set a challenge? Remember that you want it to be as much fun as possible!

Risk assessment

Once you’ve picked a place for your cleanup, visit the site before the cleanup and carry out a full risk assessment. This is a careful examination of the possible risks that could cause harm to you or your volunteers. The check sheet in Appendix 1 will help you identify possible risks. If the area carries too many risks for you and your group, choose somewhere else.

Volunteers taking part in a cleanup will not be insured by Belfast City Council. They undertake the cleanup at their own risk.

The Cleanup Crew

It’s a good idea to get as many volunteers as possible to help with the cleanup - remember many hands make light work!

To encourage more people to take part, why not try the following:

  • approach local residents either through leaflets, calling at homes or through residents’ groups.
  • put up posters in local shops, supermarkets and libraries.
  • send out a press release to your local media calling for volunteers (see Appendix 2 for a sample press release).

Equipment and preparation

You should complete our online form to arrange delivery of your cleanup equipment (link opens in new window).

For more information you can email [email protected] or call us on 028 9027 0230.

We can loan your group the following equipment for your cleanup; refuse sacks, litter picks, gloves, shovels and brushes. We will collect this equipment after the cleanup.

We can supply clear plastic bags for separating plastic bottles and cans for recycling.

Publicity

Cleanups can be excellent community events and great local stories. Let your local media know what you are doing and you may attract publicity and get recognition for your efforts.

Tips for targeting the media

Contact the news desk of your local newspaper, radio or television station to inform them of your event. Let them know at least one week before the event so they can put the date in their diary (it’s a good idea to contact them the day before to remind them of your event).

The date and timing of your event has to suit you and your volunteers but, if possible, organise your event at a convenient time for the media. Photocalls in the morning are preferable so deadlines can be met for the evening newspaper or broadcasts.

Provide the media with an interesting angle to ensure your story is covered. Make sure you let the media know:

  • who is taking part (you may want to invite your local councillor)
  • when your activity is taking place
  • where you are cleaning up
  • why you chose that particular location
  • what is interesting, unusual or unique about your event
  • how you are going to do your cleanup.

Don’t be disheartened if the media do not cover your story. On the day other news stories may take precedence over yours. Just make sure your volunteers have had as much fun as possible – see the media coverage as a bonus.

Appendix 1: Health and safety considerations for your community cleanup

Questions to ask at the planning stage
(answer yes or no) 

  • Have you advised Belfast City Council that you will be carrying out a Community cleanup and made arrangements for the rubbish to be collected?
  • Has a responsible person(s) been appointed to take overall charge of the cleanup?
  • Has the proposed site been visited to check for hazards?
  • Hazards you need to consider:
    • Busy roads or excessive traffic
    • Fast flowing or deep water
    • Steep banks, drops or large holes
    • Derelict or unsafe buildings
    • Construction sites or areas
    • Unidentified cans, drums, hazardous waste, pesticides oe chemicals 
    • Broken glass or other sharp objects
    • Syringes or drug related refuse
    • Excessive dog waste, animal waste or dead animal carcasses
  • If any of these hazards are identified, have suitable precautions to protect those carrying out the clean up been identified and implemented?

If too many hazards, or particularly dangerous hazards, are identified at a specific site consider selecting somewhere else.

Questions to ask before you begin

  • Are there enough adults to supervise any children coming along?
  • Do you have enough refuse sacks for the rubbish?
  • Are there enough suitable gloves available?
  • Are there litter pickers, brushes and shovels available?

Note: Belfast City Council can provide refuse sacks, litter pickers, gloves, shovels and brushes, which must then be collected by the Council after the cleanup.

  • Does everyone know what to do if they encounter unidentified drums, cans, chemicals etc?
  • Does everyone know what to do if the encounter hypodermic needles, other drugs related waste, condoms, and other hazardous type waste?
  • Are there suitable containers for sharps objects such as needles and glass? Do all relevant people know where they are and how to use them?
  • Does everyone know who to report any hazardous or suspicious items to?

If you find hypodermic needles, or other drugs related litter, it is often best to leave in place and contact our Community Safety team by calling 028 9027 0469 or emailing [email protected] from Monday to Friday to arrange collection. Outside of these times you can call our out of hours contact number on 07850 499 622. You can consider allocating the handling of any hazardous waste to a limited number of individuals, who should then be suitably briefed and, if necessary, trained on specific procedures. Take no chances. If in doubt - leave.

  • Does everyone know to wash hands before eating, and after handling the rubbish?
  • Does everyone know not to lift very heavy items and to ask for help if in any doubt?
  • Is everyone wearing suitable clothing such as warm, comfortable but sturdy footwear?
  • Is everyone wearing suitable clothing for the weather such as waterproofs for wet weather, hats for sun protection?
  • Are reflective arm bands on jackets if out in the dark near roads?
  • Is there a first aid box available with plasters and antiseptic wipes?
  • For larger groups, is there a first aider or has first aid provision been arranged?

Where practicable consider trying to utilise any local first aid facilities such as a local leisure centre.

  • Does everyone know where they are going and what route to take?
  • Does everyone know where the nearest toilets and facilities are?
  • Are there enough phones, or other means, to ensure suitable communications, and to ensure there is a means of calling for help in the event of an emergency?
  • Does everyone have all the safety information they need, including relevant phone numbers
  • Does everyone know who they can go to if they have any problems or questions?
  • Does everyone know who to report any hazardous or suspicious items to?

This is for guidance only. We recommend you carry out a site specific risk assessment for your specific cleanup. If you have any health and safety concerns or questions regarding a planned cleanup always seek advice and assistance before proceeding.

Keeping it safe

Make sure everyone is aware of potentially dangerous items which they should not pick up, as identified during your risk assessment. Consider the ages of the children involved in your cleanup and make sure that a sufficient number of adults are present to supervise. Before your cleanup, make sure children understand which items are potentially dangerous and should not be picked up. Warn them not to pick up any items that they are unsure about. Don’t let children attempt to pick up heavy or bulky items.

If you come across hypodermic needles or drugs-related litter, do not touch these yourselves, call us on 028 9027 0469 or email [email protected], Monday to Friday. Outside of these times, use our out of hours number 07850 499 622. It will also be necessary to isolate the area to ensure other volunteers do not come in to contact with such material.

Insurance cover

Obtaining Public Liability Insurance is very important and not very expensive. This will provide cover for your legal liability arising from accidental damage or injury that occurs during the event, including damage or injury to a member of the public or their property.

If you represent an organisation or school it is possible that you already have insurance in place, but it is important to check that cleanups are covered under such insurance.

These guidelines are issued by Belfast City Council for guidance only, and are not intended to create any legal relationship between the council and any group or individual participating in a cleanup. Anybody who follows these guidelines does so at their own risk.

Appendix 2

Sample news release

Here is a sample news release to get you started. Try to keep your release to two pages or less and always allow extra spacing between the lines. If possible, include a photograph of your group.

NEWS RELEASE

KEEP (INSERT AREA) URGE (INSERT NAME OF GROUP).

Date: (insert date)

For immediate release

A group of residents from (name of area) have had enough of rubbish. They are tired of the tide of litter that is bringing down the reputation of Belfast. And just to prove how much they loathe litter, the (name of group and where they are based) are going to go out into the streets next (date) and get their hands dirty picking up litter. By their actions they are going to show the rest of the community how big a problem litter is – and to encourage them to start disposing of it properly.

Belfast City Council have recently revealed that it costs nearly £12.8 million to clean Belfast’s streets, which is more than virtually every other similar size city across the UK. If people didn’t drop so much litter the Council wouldn’t have to spend so much money on street cleansing. Littered streets can severely damage business and tourism opportunities.

Like everywhere else in Northern Ireland, (the name of area) has its fair share of litter problems.

But thanks to the (name of group) they at least have people, prepared to do something about it.

The (name of group) will begin to tackle rubbish at (location) on (time and date). They are hoping that as many volunteers as possible will come and join them and that the rest of the community gets the message “LITTER – DON’T DROP IT, STOP IT!”

(Name if spokesperson from group) said: “This cleanup will show others that we care about the future of our local environment and that we are not prepared to live, work and play in an area that is blighted by rubbish. Working together as a community, creates a sense of local pride and for some of our younger volunteers it is their first taste of citizenship”

** The (name of group) clean up takes place at:

  • Location
  • Date
  • Time

You are invited to send a photographer or reporter to this event.

For further information contact (name) on (phone number or mobile).

END

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