With lockdown measures easing, Sandwell Council is advising residents to play their part in keeping parks and streets clean.
Last weekend, with the sunny weather, there was an increase in the number of people visiting green spaces in Sandwell. Many visitors were enjoying time with friends or having picnics with their families.
While the majority were responsible and found a bin or took their rubbish home, a lot of litter was also left behind. The council is now urging residents to take responsibility for their rubbish and, if litter bins are full, items should be taken home.
The parks are there for everyone to enjoy and the council’s request to residents is to be considerate when visiting. Large volumes of picnic waste can fill up litter bins more quickly than usual so it is always advised to take the picnic rubbish back home.
Along with park visits, more fast food outlets are opening up and rubbish from these establishments is a large contributor to the litter found on our streets. The plea is for pedestrians, and drivers especially, to take their items home with them if they cannot see a bin. Throwing rubbish from a car is never acceptable.
Councillor Maria Crompton, deputy leader for Sandwell Council, said: “We have amazing award-winning parks and green spaces in Sandwell and we want all our residents to be able to have a great experience when visiting them.
“However, we have found that there is a lot of rubbish is being left behind by visitors who have had picnics with their families or met with friends. We all want to live in a clean and safe environment and I urge residents that if you brought it with you then please take it back with you and dispose of rubbish in your household waste and recycling bins.
“As lockdown eases and more drive-through food outlets re-open, I ask residents to not throw litter from cars but take any rubbish home with them.
“I would like to thank residents again for your patience during this time but please bear with us as we work with our environmental partners, Serco, to get our streets and parks tidy over the coming weeks.
“We want everyone to enjoy living in Sandwell and visit their local park and green spaces without the sight of litter strewn everywhere. I would like to remind residents to please continue to adhere to social distancing measures set out by the government when out in public.”
Dave Lynas, Contract Manager at Serco, said: “Our street cleansing teams are working exceptionally hard to keep parks clean and empty bins as quickly as they can but, with the volumes of people visiting at the moment, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep pace.
“Green spaces have been in unprecedented demand over the recent weekend and now there are concerns that drive -through fast food outlets opening will cause a further increase in litter, so we really do need everyone to be responsible and take their rubbish home with them.”
The council also urges residents to not light barbecues – they can start fires and they cause damage to our grass and benches. Residents should also continue to maintain social distancing and stay two metres apart when out in public or visiting parks.
