IF YOU HAVE spotted bright red bags of litter appearing next to council bins in Rhondda Cynon Taf, you could be forgiven for thinking they have been fly-tipped. In fact, this is a sign that volunteers have been working hard to keep the streets, parks and beauty spots of RCT clean.
As litter picking volunteers approach their busiest time of year, environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy is raising awareness of the red bags used by volunteers.
Registered Litter Champions, community groups and anyone visiting a Litter Picking Hub can place their bagged litter next to public bins for collection or, for bigger organised clean-ups, at a pre-arranged pick-up place.
The litter in the red bags is then collected, separated and recycled at the Material Recovery Facility in Bryn Pica, Llwydcoed.
The scheme is designed to make life as easy as possible for volunteers by giving them an efficient way to dispose of the litter they have collected.
Last year, a staggering 42,821 bags of litter were collected by volunteers from across Wales. An impressive 1,488 of these were collected across Rhondda Cynon Taf with 1,356 bags of litter and 132 bags of recycling collected, with schools and youth groups, businesses, community groups and individuals all playing a part in cleaning up their local communities.
Friday 21 March saw the start of Spring Clean Cymru, taking place until Sunday 6 April, meaning more of the distinctive red bags will be spotted, as thousands of volunteers take part in clean-ups across Wales.
Hywel Tanner-Jones, Keep Wales Tidy Project Officer for Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: “It’s exciting to see more and more red bags appearing – it’s clear evidence of a growing community of amazing litter picking volunteers.
“With Spring Clean Cymru taking place from Friday 21 March until Sunday 6 April, we hope that everyone in Rhondda Cynon Taf will start to understand the significance of the red bags and be inspired to get involved in caring for our beautiful country.”
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure for Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, said: “We have lots of litter hubs in RCT that allow you to borrow free litter picking kits and we’re lucky to have some amazing and passionate groups who actively litter pick in our areas regularly. We are keen to support these groups, and our team regularly collect the red bags and ensure that we recycle as much of it as we can.
“Litter isn’t just unsightly; it can be harmful to wildlife and have a huge impact on the mental health of the people who have to see it every day. It really is a simple task to use a bin or take your litter home to dispose of your items. It’s about being responsible and loving where we live. Our outdoor spaces are for everyone to enjoy and its often the minority that spoil it.
“The one positive is that RCT has some amazing open spaces and litter picking will help to get you outdoors to explore them, boost your well-being, and take positive action to improve your community. So, grab a litter picker, step outside, and let’s work together to keep RCT tidy.”
Register an event for Spring Clean Cymru or sign up to take part in one taking place near you on the Keep Wales Tidy website.
