Please read this information and Community Litter Picking Risk Assessment before undertaking litter picking.

What does Council do?

Council undertakes residential street cleansing on a 3-weekly cycle (major and local shopping areas are more frequent). The cleansing of the public highway is done predominantly using mechanical methods with manual intervention. Areas are cleansed to a good standard however in busy areas litter may appear soon after cleansing depending on weather and foot traffic.

What does a community litter picker do?

The purpose of the scheme is for residents to volunteer to help keep their streets clean and tidy by carrying out litter picking to enhance the street cleansing cleaning service already provided by Council. Community-spirited residents carry out litter picking in their own spare time.

Risk Assessment

Please ensure you have read and understand the Community Litter Picker Risk Assessment.

Equipment

Council will supply you with high visibility vests, gloves, bag loops, blue bags, and litter picker sticks.

Please only use the blue bags provided as the Council will be able to identify these when collecting.

Hi-vis vest sizing chart

TO FIT CHEST SIZESMALLMEDIUMLARGEXLARGE2XLARGE3XLARGE4XLARGE

CM

INCHES

92 to 96

36 to 38

100 to 104

39.5 to 41

108 to 112

42.5 to 44

116 to 122

45.5 to 48

124 to 132

49 to 52

136 to 144

53.5 to 57

148 to 152

58.5 to 60

Location

  • Litter picking should be kept to streets and numbered public footpaths (those with a green footpath sign at the entrance)
  • Do not litter pick in underpasses (report litter in underpasses to Council)
  • Private land, including alleyways should not be included as areas to litter pick. These are the responsibility of the landowner/s to clean and may not be safe to enter to carry out litter picking
  • Avoid litter picking in potentially dangerous locations e.g. steep slopes, slippery surfaces, etc
  • No litter picking is to be carried out on any road with a speed limit above 30mph
  • Parks and open spaces are not part of this program

Health and safety

  • Always comply with the Community Litter Picking Risk Assessment
  • Community litter pickers under the age of 18 must be supervised by an adult
  • Please ensure that you are physically fit enough to carry out litter picking
  • Wear suitable clothing and enclosed footwear with good grip
  • Be cautious when working on parts of the pavement near to the road
  • Do not attempt to touch/remove chemical containers (empty or not) or sheeting/broken or otherwise (this could be asbestos). Make a note of the location and any markings/labels and report to the Council on 020 8 303 7777. See below images with examples of asbestos for identification

Litter collection

  • To arrange collection of litter bags please e-mail CommunityLitterPickers@bexley.gov.uk with subject “LITTER BAGS FOR COLLECTION.” In text body write: “Please can you arrange to collect “x amount” litter bags from “property address or footpath location with nearest cross street.”
  • Ensure bags are visible and accessible from the street for our mobile response team to collect
  • If you are unable to e-mail, you can call the main number on 020 8303 7777 and speak to the Contact Centre who will pass the details to for collection
  • Only pick litter – larger items should be left and reported to 020 8303 7777 or e-mailed to AreaTeamSupport@bexley.gov.uk

Thank you from London Borough of Bexley for helping to keep our neighbourhood clean.

If you have any questions/queries, please email CommunityLitterPickers@bexley.gov.uk.

Asbestos identification

Find out more about identifying different types of asbestos