31^st Dec – Having become totally disgusted at the state of Wygate Park, I went on a litter pick this afternoon.  I was hoping to do a much larger area than I finally managed, mainly due to the shear volume of rubbish I encountered.

2½ hours and 3 large black bags filled and only one side of the road between Claudette Ave and Mariette Way covered. The other side of the road, from Wedgewood Drive to the Woolram Wygate junction, was completed today.  It took a good 3 hours and generated a further 3 large bags of rubbish.  Before and after photos of one small area are attached below, just to prove I was there and did make a bit of a difference!

Most of us think of litter as a town centre problem, because that’s where lots of people go to shop, socialise (drink!) and eat.  Unfortunately, my recent rambles through the brambles, suggests a different and depressing story.

Litter is a poor way to describe the stuff that blights our streets and parks, as it makes it sound like just a few bits of paper and the odd cigarette butt – not so.  As well as the obligatory soft drink cans, sweet wrappers and crisp bags, there were a very high number of beer bottles and cans.  See photo below.

Also, I was amazed at the number half full bottles of water I found in the trees and bushes.  I can only think that the drunken louts who throw them away, just can’t be bothered carrying them all the way to the dumps they call home.  Remember, this is not a town centre location it’s where most of those who have caused this mess actually live. Put crudely it’s called, cr***ing on your own doorstep!  The vast majority of the non-alcoholic rubbish comes from a single source and I will be again asking them to do more to deal with the fallout from their trading.

Before

After

Selection of bottles and cans recovered