I’ve been cleaning up my neighborhood in Zone 2, West London, and it feels like things have gotten worse week after week. While I live in a decent area, we’re situated on a street that straddles two large councils, which seems to leave us a bit overlooked.
Since the pandemic, I’ve been armed with a litter-picker and black trash bags.
Three years ago, after dropping my son off at school, I would dedicate a little time each week to tidy up around my home, usually filling up one substantial black bag.
Now, I find I’m filling that same bag every two days.
Since January 2023, I’ve collected and discarded:
– 308 plastic bottles
– 173 napkins
– 117 vapes and e-cigarettes
– 94 cigarette packs
– 71 takeaway food containers
– 60 coffee cups
– 51 kids’ juice boxes
– 6 gas canisters
– 4 shoes
– 2 dirty diapers
I haven’t even counted the bottle caps and other miscellaneous rubbish I’ve picked up.
Just two days ago, I woke up in good spirits and ready to enjoy the sunny day, only to find a fridge dumped on the pavement just 10 meters from my home. 😭
Is there anyone else in London who’s doing similar cleanup efforts?
As someone pointed out, we shouldn’t let the current state of things get us down, and I hope more people will join in to help! Remember, even not tossing a cigarette pack on the ground is a step in the right direction. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your experience and dedication to keeping your neighborhood clean! It’s truly disheartening to see how littering has increased in your area, especially after all the hard work you’ve put in over the past few years. Your statistics are eye-opening and really highlight the urgent need for more community awareness and responsibility.
It’s great to see you maintaining your spirits despite the challenges. Every small effort counts, and your commitment sets a fantastic example for others. I hope that more people in your area will join in and help take care of the environment, even in smaller ways like not littering.
As for the fridge, that’s frustrating to find! Have you considered reporting it to your local council? They might be able to help with proper disposal. Keep up the amazing work, and know that you’re making a difference, even if it sometimes feels like a losing battle. Your resilience is inspiring! Would love to hear if you’ve had any success in getting others involved in your clean-up efforts.