140 bags of litter collected during Great Herefordshire Spring Clean

Recent weeks have seen local people join together once again to clean up their communities as part of the Great Herefordshire Spring Clean collecting 140 bags of litter weighing in at well over a tonne. 

The Spring Clean ran from Friday 21 March – Sunday 6 April 2025, with the aim of focussing local communities on reducing litter, improving public spaces and educating future generations on responsible waste disposal.

Cllr Barry Durkin, Cabinet Member Roads and Regulatory Services, said: “It was another great year for the Spring Clean, and I would like to thank our domestic waste partners FCC Environment Limited (FCC), our public realm contractor, Balfour Beatty Living Places, Hereford Community Clean Up group, the council’s Community Protection Team who were out removing flytipped items, and every other organisation and individual that played their part.”

Notable events included a Hereford Community Clean Up Group litter pick along the Great Western Way in Hereford. The pick took place on Friday 28 March, working its way North from Hunderton Bridge towards the Courtyard, including Beaumont Gardens and all the way down to Widemarsh Common. As part of this pick, 39 bags of litter and waste were collected, including two shopping trolleys, a discarded paddling pool, and even a wheelchair.

Cllr Durkin continued: “Discovering bicycles, wheelchairs and trolleys goes to show just how widespread and serious the issue of littering is. We ask people please to dispose of such items appropriately at their local Household Recycling Centre.  It also demonstrates that it isn’t just takeaway wrappers, drinks bottles and cans that are the problem.”

FCC carried out a total of 45 hours of volunteering, collecting 101 bags of litter and waste, including other items like wheel trims and car bumpers that had been tidied up by community litter picking groups.

There were also organised community litter picks across the county. Cllr Elissa Swinglehurst, Cabinet Member Environment joined a litter pick near KFC in Ross-on-Wye, which collected more than 12 bags of rubbish.

Cllr Barry Durkin concluded: “Litter is a blight to our countryside and public spaces and unfortunately it’s a growing problem. The Great Herefordshire Spring Clean is a reminder of what can be achieved when we work together and take pride in our local communities. I was pleased to be able to join the litter pick along the Great Western Way and play my own part in the fight against litter.

“The event has grown in scale since last year, and my hope is that next year will see an even greater turnout throughout the county.

“However, it is important to remember that one fortnight a year is not enough. Anybody can help to keep their local community beautiful and litter-free at any time, either on their own, or by joining one of the many wonderful community groups across Herefordshire. We welcome everybody who wants to get involved - people can find their local litter picking group on our website and groups can get involved by registering their interest with Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) at communities@balfourbeatty.com”