'Stop using our playing field as a dumping ground!'

Pupils from Heybrook Primary School with their large litter pick hoard.

Pupils from Heybrook Primary School urged people to stop using their playing field as a dumping ground when they joined staff from Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale on a litter pick last Friday (16 January).

The area adjacent to the school building suffers from high levels of littering and vandalism, leaving it dangerous for young children who play there.

10 pupils managed to collect 10 full bags rubbish in just half an hour collecting litter from the path surrounding their playground. This included broken glass, electrical equipment and burnt out remains of fly tipping.

This is the second litter pick carried out by Groundwork with schools in central Rochdale.
In December St Johns RC Primary and local businesses participated in a litter pick of the area around their kick pitch. The site, which the pupils walk through to get to school, was covered in fast food remains and more seriously dangerous fly tipping and needles.

The clean ups are part of a wider initiative the Tidy Business Standards run by Groundwork on behalf of Rochdale Council. The Tidy Business Standards scheme recognises a businesses' effort in trying to regenerate their working area by efficient waste management.

Tamsin Morris, who organised the events for Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale, said: “School pupils have made a brilliant effort to help clear their local school area of litter. They are showing their support for the scheme to keep Rochdale tidy.”