Litter campaign to stop problem

A Boston Spa woman has launched a campaign to reduce litter across the UK.

Penny Stables, chairman of the Boston Spa, Wetherby & Villages Community Green Group, said she started the clean-up drive after becoming increasing horrified by the rise in litter.

“I have been involved in the Boston Spa Rubbish Group, who have about 40 members and regularly pick up litter across Boston Spa and surrounding areas, including the Wattle Syke and A1 roundabouts and slip roads.

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“We have become increasing horrified by the continuing rise of litter everywhere we go. It is a never ending job!

“So, I have started a petition to lobby George Eustice MP to create a national campaign to reduce litter across the country: A Keep Britain Tidy in the 21st Century” campaign.; which has just gone live.”

She added that the problem of littering goes much deeper than what can be seen on the surface.

“Not only does litter effect the environment that we Iive in, it also is destroying the natural world.

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“Plastics seep into our waterways and get eaten by fish, which eventually end up on our plate for us to ingest.

“In 2015 research found that 90 per cent of all seabirds contain plastic in their gut and this year new research found that over 17 per cent of all albatross deaths are due to plastic and they are an endangered species. We have to do something to stop this.”

The Community Green Group was launched 20 months ago and has 125 members, with numbers growing.

Despite the lockdowns Penny said the group had managed to keep lots of projects going, including a forthcoming tree planting project.

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Penny added: “The tree planting should actually happen this week, with two small community orchards and a native tree avenue being planted in the West End/Deepdale area of Boston Spa.

“We have also been running a Big Bike Fix, which we set up in January this year.

“The idea is to collect any unwanted bikes in any condition, to prevent them ending up in the tip, to fix them up and then donate them to children and adults who would not be able to afford to buy one. So far we have collected 61 bikes and donated 12 into inner city Leeds.”

Through the national litter campaign, Penny aims to educate people to stop dropping litter, through schools, posters and social media.

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“The only way to halt the growth in litter across the UK is to make it unacceptable for anyone to drop litter or throw it out of their vehicle.”

“Over the last year, I have become more and more aware of the massive growth in the amount of litter everywhere you walk or travel.

“We meet every couple of weeks and litter pick in pairs in the village and up to the roundabout and slip roads off the A1.

“Over the year the amount we collect has increased and increased and we can now collect 40 bags in a week.”

The litter campaign can be found at: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/campaign-to-stop-littering?

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