Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils recently launched a joint litter mapping project aimed at identifying where and what type of items are littered, this information will then be used to target those areas.
The summer-long survey asks litter pickers to record the location and types of litter either online using our survey or by post using a set number of criteria available on our website.
Litter is defined as any item left out in public which should have been put in a bin. While the results from litter pickers might include some surprise items (a recent litter pick in Drayton St Leonard unearthed a Victorian Bovril bottle) the survey includes categories for the most commonly-littered items including:
* Bagged dog poo
* Bottles
* Cans
* Cigarette butts
* Food items
* Fast food packaging
* Face masks and disposable gloves
When results are collated later this year, then littering in the districts can be more accurately mapped and the information passed on to the councils’ envirocrime team to ensure those areas are regularly patrolled. In addition, the councils’ waste team can use the mapping to increase awareness among communities of any litter issues in their areas. The project results can also feed into the ongoing review of litter bins in the districts.
We would be very grateful if you could share this information with any litter pickers you know of in your areas. The litter picks do not need to have taken place on district council land: the more data we gather, the better!
The survey and more information can be found on our website here: www.southoxon.gov.uk/littermapping<http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/littermapping>