The annual campaign set up to keep North Tyneside greener and cleaner is returning once again for 2016.
North Tyneside Council’s ‘Big Spring Clean’ campaign, set up back in 2008, will be looking to combat litter and dog fouling with the help of local residents, businesses, schools and community groups.
And earlier this week (March 8), Year 6 students from Richardson Dees Primary School helped to launch the clean-up campaign.
The pupils were invited to produce anti-littering posters as part of a council-run competition, and the winner was presented with a prize by North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor Norma Redfearn.
The posters produced by the children will be handed out to homes and shops in the area to be displayed in windows.
Showing his support for the campaign, John Stirling, cabinet member for the Environment, said: “As the council, we strive to ensure that our borough is a great place to live, work and visit and the Big Spring Clean plays a big part in that.”
“The campaign has consistently shown some fantastic results and I look forward to seeing more of the same this year.”
Running from March until May 13, the campaign invites the public to take part in council and community-led litter picks, that the authority will support by providing gloves, bags and litter pickers.
The campaign has seen extraordinary successes in the past, with over seven tonnes of litter being removed from the borough when the initiative was ran in 2015.
And this year, the council will be aiming to surpass these figures, as well as promote responsible dog ownership through various ‘NO MESSING!’ events.
Over the course of the campaign, wardens will continue to remind dog owners of their legal obligations to clean up after their pets, issuing fines to who those who don't and the number of patrols will be increased, as well as responding to problem locations identified by the public.
The council’s mascot, Waldo the Wonderdog, will also be visiting schools where he will be holding interactive assemblies and spreading his anti-littering message to the younger generation.
For information about the Big Spring Clean, to find out about council-led litter picks or to organise your own, visit www.northtyneside.gov.uk or call 0345 2000 103.
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