A STAGGERING £1 million is spent every year keeping Worcester’s streets clean.

And the £1,242,500 bill to taxpayers only covers the city’s streets. More money is spent keeping parks and open spaces clean of litter and dirt.

This money could be saved and used on other services if people took responsibility for their litter and used some of the 678 bins around the city.

Not only would people enjoy a cleaner, greener city, but – eventually – Worcester could get a reputation as a “clean city”, which could lead to more visitors and a boost for the local economy.

Today your Worcester News joins Worcester City Council and Visit Worcester to launch the “Take Pride in Worcester” campaign, to encourage people to clean up after themselves.

Mike Harrison, the head of cleaner and greener city at the council, said: “The hope would be that the standard of cleanliness within the city would be improved.

“As a result, should cleansing resources currently utilised in this area be reduced, then the standard could still be maintained and savings generated at the same time.”

Editor of your Worcester News Kevin Ward said: “It is all too easy to criticise the council if our streets are strewn with litter.

“But the reality is it is not the council that creates the mess, it is a significant minority of Worcester’s citizens.

"This campaign is aimed at getting local people to show their pride in Worcester by helping to keep their communities clean and tidy.

“It is easy to complain about problems like litter. Now we’re giving people the chance to do something about it.

"The Worcester News is delighted to support this campaign throughout the summer.

"We will be encouraging our readers to do all they can to help keep the city litter free – and reporting on their efforts.”

During the next six weeks, your Worcester News will highlight all the work which goes into keeping our city clean – and why it is so important.

Because the problem of litter is not simply solved by a street cleaner picking up the chip packet, but also scrubbing the grease from the streets – which requires an expensive machine.

And the effects of dropping your food and wrappers are far more far-reaching than at first appears – pests like gulls thrive because of people’s inability to actually put their rubbish in a bin.

But, while gulls and rats may thrive, other animals can be fatally poisoned or become entangled in someone else’s left-overs.

Mr Harrison said: “We presently concentrate action on cleaning up public land.

“If there were less problems to deal with in this area, resources could then be transferred to dealing with similar issues on other areas of land.

“By moving more to a prevention approach rather than cure and as a result placing more emphasis on making those responsible for the problems meet the consequences of their actions.”

To report a grot spot to the council call 01905 722 101. The authority promises to have it cleaned up within two working days.
• Click here for more on the Take Pride campaign and to upload your own grot spot pictures.

FACT FILE

• 1,260 tonnes of rubbish are collected every year – or 25 tonnes per week
• It costs £1,242,500 to keep the streets clean
• There are 444 litter bins outside the city centre emptied two to three times a week
• There are 234 litter bins in the city centre, emptied several times a day, seven days a week
• The 240 dog bins in Worcester are emptied three times a week
• There are 34 “direct” employees who clean our streets