Press release from Keep Wales Tidy:
Wales cleans up its act
Published 09 February 2011
For the third year in a row an extensive survey of litter on
Wales’s streets, undertaken by specialist staff from Keep Wales
Tidy, shows that the nation’s streets are generally getting cleaner
and that the gap between the better and worst performing councils
is getting smaller.
The All Wales Local Environment Audit Management System Report
(How Clean are our Streets?) shows that initiatives undertaken by
Keep Wales Tidy and local councils are beginning to have the
desired results with the percentage of sites affected by graffiti
showing a significant reduction down from 12.2% to 4.1% and a
downward trend in the presence of dog fouling.
During 2009-–2010 the surveyors used recognised Welsh Assembly
Government methodology to calculate the levels of litter. 3,430
streets and 90 functional sites, such as carparks and green areas
next to streets, were inspected .
Litter is still a problem, however, and the most common form of
litter was smoking related which was found on 89.7% of streets.
Blaenau Gwent was the worst affected and the Vale of Glamorgan was
the least affected. In the worst affected areas, 97.6% of streets
were littered with cigarette ends although it is hoped that recent
awareness raising initiatives undertaken by Keep Wales Tidy and
local authorities will soon have an impact on the levels.
Surveyors also noted many examples of good practice being
carried out by councils. In the Vale of Glamorgan council staff
follow the waste and recycling vehicles to ensure that any spills
are collected and in Denbighshire dog fouling bags are handed to
dog walkers by street cleaning operatives. Wrexham County Council
are to mount awareness raising messages on the radio and Conwy
Council’s street cleaning staff are supplied with dust pans and
brushes to help them clean areas that normal street cleaning
machinery cannot reach.
Chief Executive for Keep Wales Tidy, Lesley Jones,
commented:
“People’s perception of the litter problem varies so using
recognised measurement techniques our team of experienced staff
visited locations in every local authority area to establish the
true extent of the problem and offer advice on how problem areas
could be improved.”
“It is promising that our streets are getting cleaner but more
people need to take responsibility for their local area.We can all
play a part in keeping Wales beautiful.”
Environment and Sustainability Minister Jane Davidson,
commented: “I am encouraged to see that some areas have improved on
last year’s results. Litter blighting our villages, towns, cities
and the countryside affects us all. I applaud the work of Keep
Wales Tidy and welcome any initiative that can help reduce litter
spoiling our environment and the costs resulting in removing it.
There is still room for improvement and we all have a part to play
in this important work .
“Earlier this year I launched Keep Wales Tidy’s I will campaign
and I encourage everyone to visit their website to make a simple
pledge to improve their community.”
Keep Wales Tidy’s new ‘I Will for Wales’ campaign encourages
people to sign up to a New Year's Resolution that will help care
for the local environment and improve the look and feel of the
community. Supporters can choose from ten simple pledges, which
range from promising to dispose of cigarette butts and chewing gum
responsibly to using a bag for life when shopping.
More information on waste management in the Vale of Glamorgan
can be found on our website here.
Notes to editors:
- For further information please contact Sarah Philpott,
Communications Officer, Keep Wales Tidy. Tel: 029 2038 1737 or
mobile 07769 708980.
- Keep Wales Tidy is a registered environmental charity working
for the improvement of Wales’s local environments. More information
about Keep Wales Tidy can be found on their website www.keepwalestidy.org