Oldham and Saddleworth Greens salute council clean up pledge

Brian Banawich

Green Party activists have welcomed the £1.27m council investment to help clean up Oldham and Saddleworth.

Brian Banawich said: "Any investment is good news for local people who appreciate living in cleaner areas without the unsightly nuisance of litter .

“There are dozens of local groups litter-picking on a regular basis, as well as many individuals, and it's good to see the council calling for a collective effort to clean up our communities.

“I'd like to think these hard-working community groups have had an impact on council thinking by their example.

“The council needs to look at creating a hub where local residents can contact local litter-picking groups and get involved."

Keep Britain Tidy estimates that two million pieces of rubbish are dropped every day across the country, which equates to 23 items of rubbish being dropped every second.

John Read, the founder of Clean Up Britain, said of the findings: “Britain is the most filthy, littered country in the industrialised world.

“We are in the midst of a litter epidemic and have been for the past 10 years. “However, our standards are now so low that most people don’t even realise the appalling state of the country. 

“They have just got used to the social norm being that they see litter almost everywhere. 

“It’s a very sad indictment of our country that so many people seem to have no sense of civic pride and no respect for the environment, or indeed other people.

“What chance have we of making the changes required to avert climate catastrophe if we can’t even get millions of our fellow citizens to be bothered to put their litter – which more accurately should be termed ‘personal pollution’ – in a bin?”

Mr Banawich added: "The council investment is a good start, but more effective enforcement against offenders and effectively engaging the community are also part of the fight against litter.”

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