Lent litter picking guide
Although local councils have suspended all group litter picking activities in line with the Government’s social distancing guidance, you can still go out independently to help keep your local area clean and green. You can organise a sponsored socially distanced litter pick and ask everyone taking part to collect sponsorship for the number of bags they fill.
Our advice to those who would like to take part in this activity is:
- Do not leave home if you or someone you live with has Coronavirus symptoms, check the NHS website for advice
- Only go out to litter pick with members of your household
- Stay local
- Try to avoid busy times – parks and open spaces get really busy late afternoons and early evenings
- Ensure you are wearing thick gloves
- Do not touch litter directly, use a litter picking device if you have one
- Do not touch sharp objects
- Place your collected litter in a refuse bag and dispose of it responsibly in a landfill waste bin
- Where possible maintain the 2 metre social distancing regulations whilst you are out and about in line with social distancing rules
- Ensure you do not touch your face and wash your hands thoroughly when you return home
Safety Equipment
Your safety is very important to us and we want to ensure that you are equipped to take part in this activity.
Most local councils run a volunteer litter picking scheme. Contact them directly as they may be able to provide you with equipment such as
• A litter picking device
• A high visibility waistcoat
• Disposable gloves
Manual handling advice
Please be aware of the risk of injury by carrying bags of collected litter. Do not attempt to lift and carry heavy materials. To avoid injury, the basic principles of manual handling should be applied:
- Use a litter picking device to prevent constant bending and stretching
- Decide if an item can be safely moved by one person and only try to move an item if this can be done so without straining
- When lifting an item, bend your legs and keep your back straight