Litterbugs target Mossley's grot-spots

Kind-hearted Mossley Litterbugs have been out and about cleaning up grot spots around the town.

The group has had to scale down their usual monthly community picks due to Covid-19 restrictions, but volunteers are still picking litter every week around Mossley. 

The group is now using two approaches to keep the town clean.

First the Litter Bugs are encouraging residents to take care of their immediate local area or stretch of footpath which they regularly use. 

Every carrier bag of litter taken home means that it will not harm wildlife, enter the waterways and end up as micro plastic pollutant. It also means the town looks cleaner for everyone. 

One volunteer has even taken to the water in his boat to tackle the polluted canal.

The second approach has been to identify ‘grot spots’ and tackle the areas in socially distanced small groups. This has included clearing a 50m stretch of riverbank.

The team of volunteers has now moved on to their biggest challenge yet.

Recently pickers have been trying to clear a huge green space which borders Mossley Hollins High School and unfortunately attracts littering from people walking past and also fly-tipping. 

It’s a big expanse of grass, shrubs and many brambles and the Litter Bugs say progress is slow. 

So far more than 50 bags of mostly bottles, cans and snack wrappers have been filled and all sorts of larger items have been located and removed.

The Litter Bugs volunteers are supported by Mossley Town Council and TMBC through the provision of bags and picking equipment and TMBC remove all reported ‘bag piles’ too. 

Rachel Summerscales, from the group, said: “Last week three volunteers had to scramble an emergency response team when a member noticed that bin bags had been fly tipped off a bridge and into the river. 

“Two members, who are experienced cold water swimmers, pulled the bags from the water which were already losing their contents into the river. They also found a discarded air rifle. 

“ID found in the bags located the owner through Facebook who had paid someone to take the rubbish to the tip. Ultimately the owner of the rubbish is still responsible for the fly tipping.”

If you’d like to find out more about how to volunteer with Mossley Litter Bugs you can then find them on Facebook or WhatsApp Rachel on 07984 585375.

If you’d like to find out how to join or set up a litter picking group in your own area, visit the Keep Manchester Tidy Group on Facebook where you can find a map with pinned groups and loads of help and support from like- minded people.

l If you are asking a third party, eg a builder or contractor, to dispose of waste on your behalf, you should ensure they are a registered waste carrier.

You are responsible for checking they are registered, so always ask to see their certificate. 

Always get a receipt confirming what they have taken and where they have disposed of it and details of any payment made.

Details of registered waste carriers can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/access-the-public-register-for-environmental-information

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