'Just one GB Spring Clean won't address litter issue'

A large TV was among the items the group found when litter picking in Peterborough

A litter-picking group that took part in the Great British Spring Clean said one event would not be enough to make a difference.

The Great British Spring Clean, which encourages people to join together to pick up litter in their local area, is taking place between 15-31 March.

In Peterborough, a joint effort between voluntary group Peterborough Litter Wombles and the city council saw more than 100 volunteers collect 200 bags of litter from across the city on 16 March.

Yet Harry Machin, from Peterborough Litter Wombles Association, said that although the event was important, it did not do enough to "address the litter issue.”

Harry Machin (left) has appealed for more volunteers to join the city's litter-picking groups

Volunteers picked up litter across Dogsthorpe, Bretton, Parnwell and Hampton. They collected shopping trolleys, drug needles, Nitrogen Oxide canisters, cans and bottles. Peterborough and District Angling Association even found a large TV.

The event has been sponsored by Keep Britain Tidy, who donated garbage bags, and the city council provided litter-picking kits.

This is the third year that the voluntary group Peterborough Litter Wombles Association, which has 1,100 members of Facebook, took part in the initiative.

“It’s getting bigger each year,” the litter-picking group said.

Mr Machin, who founded the group, said more needs to be done.

“It is an important event to educate people and get them involved. And we had a lot of families this time who we didn’t see before.

“But it’s not nearly enough to address the problems.

“We have been talking about deposit return scheme - where you pay a little extra for a can or bottle and when you return it back to the shop you are refunded. That has not been implemented, despite being talked about for year.

“We think more could be done to enforce the law, which can act as a deterrent.

“Another big reason we see so much litter in Peterborough is a lack of bins. There are footways and cycleways that just don’t have bins. If we put plastic bags along lamp posts people have used them so it shows the bins could work.”

Volunteers spent more than 180 hours picking up litter across Peterborough

Appeal for more volunteers

Over the next two weeks, several events have been planned including a city centre litter pick organised by Peterborough Positive and a city-wide litter pick by RSA insurance firm.

“We need more volunteers to join our campaign. It’s a great activity to do which gets you out and helps socialise and you make a difference to your community,” Mr Machin said.