Communities across Wales are being urged to join Spring Clean Cymru 2021 and help pick up the litter that has blighted our beaches, parks and streets since lockdown restrictions have eased.
Keep Wales Tidy is teaming up with every local authority for this year’s Spring Clean Cymru. Together they are calling on individuals, households, schools and formal community groups to clean-up the streets, parks or beaches on their doorstep between 28 May and 13 June.
Nearly 200 clean-ups across Wales have already been registered for Spring Clean Cymru, which is part of Caru Cymru (a Welsh phrase meaning ‘Love Wales’) – the biggest ever initiative to eradicate litter and waste.
Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive Lesley Jones said:
“In the past twelve months our outdoor spaces have mattered to us more than ever before. They have been a sanctuary during challenging times.
“Yet, sadly we’ve seen a ‘lockdown litter effect’ as restrictions have eased, with a minority of selfish people failing to respect the places they’ve visited.
“We know that communities are frustrated. We’re frustrated. Now, let’s turn this frustration into action and show our beautiful country some love. It doesn’t matter where you live or how much time you can spare – you can make a difference and be a litter hero.
Caru Cymru has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Spring Clean Cymru is also part of this year’s Great British Spring Clean. For the first time, volunteers are being asked to pledge how many minutes they will spend cleaning up their local area. This will be converted into miles and added to a UK total. The aim is to collectively walk a million miles.