Organising a litter pick in your community

Organising a community litter-pick can make a big difference to your local area and bring people together. Town and parish councils are key in making sure these events are safe and well-run.

Here’s a simple guide on how to plan a successful litter-pick, including areas to avoid, risk assessment, health and safety, insurance, event planning, and waste disposal.

Areas to Avoid

When planning a litter-pick, some areas should be avoided to keep everyone safe:

• Busy Roads: Traffic can be dangerous, as a rule of thumb, litter picks should not be planned on roads with a speed limit higher than 30mph.
• Waterways: Rivers and lakes can be slippery and risky.
• Construction Sites: These areas can have dangerous materials and equipment.
• Private Property: Always get permission before entering.

Conducting a Risk Assessment

A risk assessment helps you spot dangers and find ways to reduce them. Here’s how to do it:

1. Identify Hazards: Look for things that could cause harm.
2. Who Could Be Harmed: Think about staff, volunteers, and members of the public.
3. Evaluate Risks: Decide how to reduce or eliminate risks.
4. Record Findings: Write down what you’ve found and what you’ll do about it.
5. Review Regularly: Check the assessment often to keep it up-to-date.

Health & Safety

Keeping everyone safe is very important. Here are some tips:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Provide gloves, high-visibility vests, and litter-pickers.
• First Aid: Have a first-aid kit and ideally (this is not mandatory) a trained first aider on site.
• Safety Briefing: Explain potential hazards and safety rules to all volunteers and staff at the start of the day.
• Dealing with sharp objects: You should have procedures in place for dealing with sharp objects, needles or syringes. 

Public Liability Insurance 

Public Liability Insurance protects your council if something goes wrong. It usually covers: 

• Injuries to Volunteers: If a volunteer gets hurt. 
• Injuries to the Public: If someone passing by gets hurt. 
• Damage to Property: If property is accidentally damaged. 
• Make sure your insurance is current and covers litter-picks. 

Planning the Litter Pick 

A good plan makes the event smooth and safe: 

1. Choose a Date and Time: Pick a time that works for most people. 
2. Recruit Volunteers: Spread the word through local channels and social media. 
3. Assign Roles: Give out roles like team leaders and first-aiders. 
4. Gather Supplies: Get all the necessary equipment. 
5. Plan the Route: Map out the areas to clean, avoiding dangerous spots. 

Safely Disposing of the Waste 

Proper waste disposal is essential: 

• Separate Waste: Sort recyclables from general trash. 
• Use Designated Disposal Sites: Arrange for waste collection or use designated sites. 
• Record Volumes: Keep track of how much waste is collected for future planning. 

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