Pupils step out of the classroom for a Big Clean litter pick

The Matthew Moss litter pickers celebrate their success.

Pupils from Matthew Moss High School put down their pens and armed themselves with litter pickers to have a go at cleaning up the local area as part of Rochdale Council’s Big Clean campaign.

Working alongside officers from the council, the pupils and their caretaker Roy Downes wrapped up warm and pulled on high vis jackets to get rid of crisp packets, bottles, cans and bags that had been thrown carelessly into bushes and onto open land.

After their litter pick, the pupils received a Big Clean litter pick certificate from the council in appreciation of their hard work.

Councillor Wera Hobhouse, cabinet member for environment and sustainability at the council, said: “The pupils managed to fill bags with lots of rubbish and made a real difference to the area around the school.

“The young people I meet are so enthusiastic when you talk to them about the importance of recycling and keeping their areas tidy – and I do think schools do a lot nowadays to get their pupils more engaged with their environment and how important it is to look after it.”

Whether you’re at school, a member of a community or voluntary group, or you simply fancy getting your neighbours together to have a blitz on litter in your street - the council can help you organise and promote your own Big Clean litter pick. It will also provide you with Big Clean litter pick posters so you can put them up in public places and tell people about it.

On the day of your litter pick the council will send officers to help out, plus it will arrange to deliver and pick up all the equipment you need - including litter pickers, gloves, rubbish bags, high visibility vests and health and safety guidance. The council will also collect the bags of rubbish you gather.

If you want to organise a Big Clean litter pick in your area or you want to report a grot spot, call the Big Clean hotline on 0845 226 1800 or email environmental.management@rochdale.gov.uk.