Springboard to a Cleaner Reading with The Great British Spring Clean

RESIDENTS all around Reading are getting outside to help tidy up their local communities as part of the Great British Spring Clean which runs until Sunday 6 April.

Reading Borough Council is supporting the campaign by offering support and free equipment to any residents inspired to join the Reading Adopt Your Street (RAYS) movement and do their bit to keep Reading clean for all.

With almost 80 new registrations to the Council’s popular RAYS scheme last year, more volunteers than ever before have been provided with the free equipment they need to make a difference in the place where they live. Since 2019 there have been 325 registrations to the scheme.

RAYS has options for individuals, community groups, businesses and schools, and will provide all the equipment needed for those interested to keep streets, open spaces, footpaths, parks and shopping areas litter-free.

When you sign up you can receive for free:

• litter pickers
• 100% recycled plastic bags
• gloves
• hi-vis jackets

Whilst RAYS members operate all year round, they will also be supporting the nationwide Great British Spring Clean, now in its tenth year as the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign.

Residents are encouraged to chat to neighbours or local community groups to co-ordinate a group of individuals to take positive action in their area. Anyone needing some help with getting a crew together can visit www.reading.gov.uk/RAYS to find out more.

Other ways that residents can help is by reporting full bins or other waste related issues such as fly-tipping via:

• The Love Clean Streets app, downloadable from your phone’s app store, where you can report incidences immediately along with photographic evidence and an exact location
• Contacting the Council via social media on Facebook or Twitter, or by phone on 01189 373787

Although the Great British Spring Clean ends on Sunday 6 April, residents can join the RAYS scheme throughout the year to help ensure Reading stays clean all year round.

Karen Rowland, Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said:

“We have a very passionate core of enthusiastic residents who are doing great things to help us keep Reading tidy – and we want to grow that number! If you can spare a few hours a month doing a regular litter pick with your friends, family, social clubs or community groups, we’d love to hear from you through our RAYS programme.

“The Council simply does not have the resources to be everywhere in our town. We are bringing in more resources to go after those that litter later this year, and residents that want to work with us can use The Great British Spring Clean as a springboard to make Reading a tidier place for everyone, and then work together with us in keeping it that way throughout the year”.