Newark and Sherwood District Council looking to create volunteer litter-picking network

A council is looking for passionate individuals to volunteer their time to help the environment.

Newark and Sherwood District Council is encouraging people to come forward as part of a new voluntary network to crackdown on litter.

“We want to build a volunteer network. A network of passionate individuals and groups who, like us, cannot tolerate the mindless littering that blights our beautiful district,” said council leader David Lloyd.

“As a district council, we can do so much but we know, if we all pull together, we can achieve so much more. More people than ever are asking the council for equipment so they can help step up our efforts at tackling mindless littering.

“With many volunteers preferring to go out on their own to litter-pick while dog walking or during the school run rather than joining a larger group activity, we want to formalise our volunteer network to make it as easy as possible for our wonderful community to tackle littering.”

The council will soon launch a MyAccount platform, which will allow residents to create an account to access district council services that are relevant to them.

With an account, residents can organise community litter-picking activities.

The council will then arrange the delivery of litter-pickers, high-vis vests, litter hoops and bags, as well as agreeing the location for the collection of waste.

The council is also looking to buy 400 litter-pickers, hoops, bags and high vis vests, which will be available to those volunteering via the MyAccount app.

Mr Lloyd said: “Our district is huge, at over 650sq km it is the largest district in Nottinghamshire.While our environmental teams work all over the district we need volunteers to work with us in a coordinated way so we can direct our services to the right places at the right times.

“That is why we are calling on even more local residents to become part of our volunteer network.

“We currently have around 100 event organisers, community groups and individuals who take part in volunteer litter-picks, with a district the size of Newark and Sherwood, even more volunteers are required to further help support our environmental team in a more efficient and manageable way.”

The MyAccount platform will contain personalised information for residents relating specific to their area, for example, personalised bin collection calendars.

“Our aim is to get around 400 regular volunteers who will be supplied with equipment to litter pick their local area,” said Mr Lloyd.

“The equipment being issued on an ongoing loan basis with the resident holding the kit for as long as they require.”

“We will continue to fine all those people we spot littering and I encourage you to report any litter to us, via the report feature on our website.

“Our volunteer network will not only bring our community together, it will help us tackle an issue that frustrates us all.”