Litter Free Leeds

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Sunday 24th March 2024, 10 am, East View Playing Fields

💜💜🚯GILDERSOME GOES PURPLE🚯💜💜

GPC are pleased to be supporting the ‘Litter Free Leeds’ organised litter pick due to take place on Sunday 24th March 2024 across Leeds.
đź’śMeet at 10am East View Playing Fields
đź’śCollect your purple litter bag
đź’śLeave filled bags by any LCC litter bin for collection
đź’śThere will be a small supply of litter pickers to borrow

Litter Pick Sunday 25th March 2024 Litter pickers and bags provided. MeetEast View Playing fields 10am. Bring own gloves. Keep Britain Tidy
Purple bags will be provided by Cllr Nixon on the day.
Sunday 24th March, 2024. 10am. East View Playing Fields.
General Information and Advice from Leeds City Council about Litter Picking. Leeds City Council Crest 3 owls shield with 3 stars and a lamb

Use of Leeds City Council Purple Litter Bags

Firstly a big THANK YOU from Leeds City Council for being one of the many residents across the city who are part of the amazing Litter Free Leeds movement. It is incredible what is being done by people who want to do their bit in the area they live and play. The Council is working closely with Litter Free Leeds to provide support needed but also to ensure people are able to undertake this activity safely.

It is important that anyone intending to use the purple bags as part of a local litter picking activity gets this guide and reads it carefully before starting.

Who can use the purple bags?

These bags are provided for free by Leeds City Council to Litter Free Leeds group organisers/bag holders for them to distribute to local volunteers as they feel appropriate. Anyone using the bags should read and adhere to the guidance set out in the document, with particular attention given to the safe working “rules” and where to leave bags for collection.

All litter collected MUST be put in these distinctive purple bags. It is important the Leeds City Council can differentiate waste that has been left on the side of the road and that these bags are only used by volunteer community litter pickers. Unless specifically told otherwise, the white LCC bags should not be used.

What safe working rules should l follow when litter picking?

✅ Do – If working alone, always ensure that a family member or friend are aware of your whereabouts;

✅ Do – always wear gloves and use litter pickers when litter picking;

âś… Do – always wear reflective or light clothing, ideally a hi-vis vest;

✅ Do – follow current restrictions and advice around preventing the spread of Coronavirus;

✅  Do – carry a mobile phone if possible in case of emergency;

✅ Do – only litter pick on safe to access public land;

âś…  Do – be aware of your health and safety and surroundings, only pick where it is safe to do so;

âś… Do – ensure that you are wearing a strong pair of boots or shoes;

✅  Do – wash your hands and carry hand sanitiser;

âś…  Do – ensure that children are accompanied and supervised by a known and responsible adult at all times;

✅  Do – follow any appropriate guidance if you have Duke of Edinburgh volunteers working with you

❌ Don’t – handle any needles or sharp objects

❌  Don’t – litter pick on or close to any busy or high speed roads and never close to roads with speed limits over 40 mph. On lower speed roads don’t litter pick unless there is a path or flat grass verge that allows you to pick a distance from the traffic;

❌  Don’t – lift or pick large or heavy items;

❌  Don’t – lift or collect flytipped waste or items where you don’t know what the material may be (i.e. could it be asbestos?);

❌  Don’t – litter pick private land unless you have specific permission to;

❌  Don’t – litter pick in the dark or in inclement weather;

❌  Don’t – work in or near watercourses;How do I get some more purple bags?Purple bags can only be provided direct by LCC to those on Litter Free Leeds list of group organisers/bag holders. They should email their requests to: purplebags@leeds.gov.uk .

Do Leeds City Council collect the bags once full?

Yes, providing the litter pick was on public land Leeds City Council will collect the full bags. It is important that you do all you can to leave them next to a Leeds City Council litter bin. Please be aware though, the frequency of emptying of some of the bins does vary from several times a week to less than once a week depending on its location and how often it would normally fill up.

If you cannot leave the full bag(s) near a Leeds City Council litter bin, then you must leave the bag(s) at a location where it is possible for a caged wagon to safely pull in. So NOT on a junction, or on the side of a busy, main road, or a narrow country road. A bus stop or layby would be an obvious safer place to leave them. You must let the Council know exactly where you have left the bag(s) by emailing purplebags@leeds.gov.uk.

If the litter pick is a group activity and likely to produce several bags for collection, it would be helpful to forewarn the council so a collection can be planned. Again, email purplebags@leeds.gov.uk

Please don’t assume because you have posted your achievements on the Litter Free Leeds Facebook page that the Council will be aware.

Do Leeds City Council provide litter picking equipment?

The Council’s Cleaner Neighbourhoods Team have stocks of litter picking equipment available for short loan. We are looking at how further stocks could be purchased, including smaller grabbers for children, and then distributed through the group organisers/bag holders to either loan out or donate to local volunteers direct. We will provide an update when we have one.

What happens to the litter that is collected, is it recycled?

The litter that is collected is taken to the waste transfer station at Kirkstall, where we bulk it up with the white bags full of litter from the council litter bins and take it to AWM. Because of the amount of contamination, mainly dog-poo bags/content, it is not possible to sort this waste for recycling. The bags are taken directly to the shredder and sent to make Refuse Derived Fuel. In order to recycle any litter found you would need to separate it into a bag that just contained the right items/materials and put it in your green bin at home.

Why is there a problem with me litter picking private/non-council land?

First and foremost because without their permission you may be trespassing. Even though you think you are helping, the landowner may not agree with you, for example if it was farmland with livestock or crops in. Also, the council may already be taking enforcement action requiring the land to be cleared of litter.

As a group or individual you could choose to litter-pick private land or land that belongs to a business, school or Canal and River Trust. But, providing you have successfully contacted the owner of the land to gain permission, they should then dispose of the waste at their cost, not the Leeds council tax payers. This may also encourage them to take more responsibility themselves in the future.

What about larger, non-litter items I come across in my litter picking?

Many group litter picks end up finding items that have somehow found themselves in the undergrowth at road side – such as wheel hubs, broken signs, broken bumpers etc. If they don’t fit in the purple bag then they can be neatly left by the side of them for collection – but please forewarn the council crews, particularly if there is a lot, by emailing purplebags@leeds.gov.uk.

Flytips should be reported through the Council’s online reporting page at www.leeds.gov.uk/flytipping . The time taken to remove flytips will depend on time to gather evidence first, whether it is actually on council land (may otherwise need a notice issuing on the landowner) and of course the competing priorities of the crews.