Thieves target new litter-picking pods

Some pods in Scunthorpe have already had most of their equipment taken

Thieves have stolen litter-picking equipment installed in pods in North Lincolnshire for use by volunteers, a council said.

Eight pods, containing litter grabbers, bin bags, bag hoops, hi-vis vests and gloves, were recently installed in parks and on streets across Scunthorpe and the surrounding area by North Lincolnshire Council.

The authority said it wanted to encourage volunteers to collect litter in their local area.

Pods at Sheffield Park and on Henderson Avenue in the town have already had most of their equipment taken.

Council leader Rob Waltham said: “It is disappointing, but you can’t stop doing good things to help improve the environment around the area, just because bad people do bad things.”

Asked if the council would continue to replace the equipment, he added: “The answer is yes, because we can’t let bad people stop good people doing a good job.”

The pods are designed for use by the volunteers who tidy up the area and then return the equipment after use, with the bags of rubbish left next to council bins for collection.

Despite the thefts, the idea has been widely welcomed by local residents.

Residents in Burton upon Stather had some concerns about whether the equipment would be safe

Angela Jennison, 69, from Burton upon Stather, said she would make use of the pod installed in the High Street.

“If something is left around on the street, I always pick it up," she said.

However, responding to what happened in Scunthorpe, she said she hoped the one in the village "doesn’t get trashed or misused".

Another resident, Tony Evans, 57, told BBC Look North the pods were a “brilliant idea.”

“I think you should take ownership of where you live, so if there is the opportunity for people to get involved, you should give them the chance,” he said.

Ilona Richards, 75, who has lived in the village for 23 years, also welcomed the initiative, but had doubts about security.

“It’s a good idea, but my first thought was how long is that equipment going to be there before it gets trashed or stolen?”

The council said it spent more than £1m a year cleaning the area.

In 2023, the authority increased fines for littering from £150 to £200.

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