‘It’s Love Parks Week 26 July – 4 August! Discover fun events happening near you by checking your local council’s website, social media or newsletters.
Love Parks is a week-long celebration highlighting the vital role green spaces play in boosting the health and wellbeing of residents and communities.’
Visit Keep Britain Tidy for more details.
For litter picking opportunities at any time of year, Get Involved.
‘A wet winter has meant it’s been a difficult start to the year for many farmers. Facing reduced early crop yields or worse still, zero yields, the temptation to cut costs or diversify, to find additional income is more tempting than ever.
Unfortunately, this makes farmers an ideal target for unscrupulous waste operators who are more than willing to take advantage of people under greater financial pressure. Whether it is an offer of a “cheap tip” of materials that can be used to repair roads and tracks or an agreement to secure land for spreading or storage of materials in farm buildings.’
This Environment Agency blog provides useful precautions for landowners to protect themselves from waste criminals.
‘As a rule of thumb, if it has been removed from somewhere, it is surplus to requirements or it has been through some kind of sorting or treatment process (such as crushing) it’s safer to assume it is a waste.’
‘Devon man Christopher Garrett has been jailed for 32 months after he dumped thousands of tonnes of waste, including asbestos, on land by his home, in a floodplain near Kingsteignton in Devon. He was also ordered to pay a Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation sum of over £200,000.
Christopher Garrett buried asbestos in floodplain in what is thought to be the worst offence of its kind in Devon and Cornwall.
Around 12,000 tonnes of controlled mixed construction and demolition waste was deposited on land designated as a floodplain.
Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111′
The Clean Devon partnership will be attending this year’s Devon County Show (16th – 18th May) to highlight our work tackling litter and fly tipping in the county, and the duty of care we all have to keep our communities litter-free.
We would also like to encourage residents to take part in community litter picking which is not only personally rewarding but essential to protect our natural habitats, wildlife and livestock.
We are also delighted to be sharing our stand with Trading Standards who are responsible for enforcing many of the recent restrictions which aim to reduce litter in our communities such as the recent single use plastics ban.
With a ban on single use vapes just one year away, Stop for Life Devon will also be on hand to raise awareness of the free support that’s available for eligible people in Devon to give up smoking.
The Clean Devon stand is situated within the Devon County Council zone (road 8) so drop by for a chat to see what we are doing, and what we all can do to reduce litter in this fantastic County.
‘From 1 March until 31 July, birds start breeding, taking advantage of warmer weather, availability of food and nesting materials, making it crucial to give them the space they need.
People and dogs should avoid walking through gorse, heather and other low growing vegetation, because you can easily scare birds or harm birds’ nests. If disturbed repeatedly, birds cannot incubate their eggs or feed their young and nests can be abandoned leaving eggs or chicks exposed to predators.’
Find out more about ‘paws on paths‘ or the Four Paws Code from Devon Loves Dogs.
‘The modern way to find many of the services, trades, and products we need to buy is to look online. It’s quick, easy and you can do it from the comfort of your own home.
But it is a minefield of hidden dangers.
Criminals are lying in wait on social media platforms, apps, and selling platforms that you use.
Criminals dealing in waste are no different.
Did you know, you are responsible for making sure anyone you pay to take away your rubbish is a registered waste carrier?’
See this Environment Agency blog, it’s easy and quick to check
‘Officers from Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service, accompanied by tobacco detection dogs and Devon & Cornwall Police, searched a location in south Devon. A positive indication by detection dogs led to the discovery of a significant quantity of illegal products.
The seizure, one of the largest to date, consisted of over 18,000 illegal tobacco products (counterfeit and non-duty paid cigarettes and tobacco) and over 2,000 illegal vapes (not compliant for the UK market).’
Note: Government intends to ban single-use vapes from April 2025.
‘Waste crime has been going on for too long – and the Environment Agency is taking action.
That’s why we’re committing more resources than ever to find, identify and prosecute these people.
Our message is simple – if you are a waste crook, we are coming for you.’
To find out how the Environment Agency and partners are cracking down on waste crime see this blog.
National Highways launches a ‘Litter kills’ campaign.
‘Discarded roadside rubbish and food attract wildlife to their death. Use a bin or wait until you get home.
Animals are attracted to discarded rubbish which brings them closer to the dangers of fast moving traffic.’
‘The Environment Agency launches Economic Crime Unit to address serious financial offences in the waste sector
The unit will help to ensure those working in waste management do the right thing and gangsters are unable to operate in the sector.’