Londoners are once again being asked to pitch in to make the city a more beautiful place.
The city kicked off its annual Clean and Green campaign on Tuesday. It is the 29th year London has held the campaign that encourages people to pick up trash near their homes and in city parks.
"London Clean and Green is an opportunity for residents and businesses to come together, get out with a bag and a pair of gloves, and help clean up,” said Jay Stanford, the city's director of climate change, environment and waste management. “For 29 years, Londoners have made our city cleaner and greener each spring. It would not be possible without all the volunteers, partners and sponsors who roll up their sleeves each year and make a difference in the community.”
While Londoners are asked to help tidy up anytime this month, there are a few key dates to keep in mind.
The 12 days of cleaning are on until April 20. The goal of the initiative is to prevent litter and make sure unwanted items are properly disposed of. Residents looking to lean more about what goes where in the city's waste and recycling programs can download the Recycle Coach app.
The 20-minute London makeover is scheduled for April 19. The goal is to have local businesses, institutions, schools, and individuals spend 20 minutes on that day collecting litter and cleaning up outside of their workplace or home.
A community-wide cleanup follows on April 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. with numerous community-led clean-ups planned across London. People participating in the clean-up can pinpoint their location online and invite others to join. According to the city, sharing locations will also prevent overlapping clean-ups.
Residents or businesses who need garbage bags and gloves for their community clean-ups can request them from the city. As well, get city crews to pick up their bagged litter after collection.
London Clean and Green first launched in the city in 1996 to promote litter prevention and community-led clean-ups.
