Community heroes clean up the streets across Wigan and Leigh

Litter pickers from across Wigan Borough’s community helped to officially launch the campaign during a focus group aimed at encouraging others to get involved in the fight against littering.

The campaign was set up in response to a council survey which saw almost 2000 people share their experiences of litter, with 61 per cent of respondents stating that litter was a problem where they live.

Just over 34 per cent of respondents admitted littering on some occasions, stating a lack of time and claiming it wasn't their responsibility.

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£2000 was spent to clean up this rubbish near Pennington Square in 2020 (Image: Wigan Council)

Councillor Paul Prescott, portfolio holder for environment, said: “It was brilliant to see so many litter pickers leading by example and coming together to launch our new campaign.

“With so many people stating that litter is an issue where they live, this is clearly a prevalent concern to our residents and something that we cannot ignore.

“Littering – from issues as seemingly small as a cigarette butt thrown to the floor or the discarding of banana skins out of car windows, all the way up to the fly tipping of big objects – blights our environment, harms animals and costs the taxpayer money to clean up.”

Rubbish dumped on Lodge Lane last year (Image: Contributed)

Wigan Council estimates it spends around £4m every year removing litter and fly tip from public spaces.

Responding to the council survey, 17 per cent people said they have or would consider fly tipping something or knew someone who had.

In response, Wigan Council announced the introduction of an enhanced bulky waste collection service which allows two free collections a year to help address this issue.

There are currently more than 2,650 bins across the borough with more being strategically placed in response to the survey.

Rubbish dumped at the back of Glebe Street (Image: Contributed)

Councillor Prescott added: “We are all collectively responsible for keeping our borough clean.

“If there was less littering and fly tipping, Wigan Council could spend that money on other vital services like caring for people in need, providing housing or enhancing our environment. So, let’s all keep it clean!”

Over the next weeks and months, the council said that catchy slogans will come out across social media, with snappy messages aimed at encouraging people to think twice about littering.