The Oldham Liberal Democrat Group has echoed the recent call of Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal for more local action over litter by tabling a motion at the next meeting of the Full Council (September 9) on the issue.

The campaign group Keep Britain Tidy is organising the Great British September Clean-Up from 11 – 27 September, and Liberal Democrat Councillors Diane Williamson and Sam Al-Hamdani see this as ideal opportunity to get the Council, its employees, local businesses and residents working together to make our borough cleaner.”

Crompton Councillor Diane Williamson, who is proposing the motion, said:  “No one wants  to see litter on our streets.  It makes our neighbourhoods look dirty and unloved.  We want to encourage residents and businesses to join forces with the Council to clear our streets and parks of litter.”

“At a time when many of us may feel powerless and isolated as a consequence of Covid-19, this is something everyone can get involved in, from young to old, and whatever your infirmity, to make a difference in your community.  Even if everyone could just pick up one piece of litter every day during this campaign, it would make such a difference.”

Saddleworth West and Lees Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who is seconding the motion, is especially keen to see businesses get involved:  “In our motion, we are asking local businesses to engage with this campaign by signing up as supporters of the DEFRA voluntary code which sets out practical steps businesses can take to reduce litter.  They can also help by sponsoring a local litter bin and public education programmes, especially if they sell products, such as fast food, where packaging is often quickly discarded by customers.  If we can reduce the packaging, educate the customer to throw their rubbish in the bin rather than on the floor, and then provide an extra bin for them to throw it in, so much the better.”

The Liberal Democrats are also keen to see the trial of at least one reverse vending machine in the Borough.  Councillor Williamson explained:  “Several of our large supermarket chains have already trialled these elsewhere in the UK, and it would be great to see one in Oldham.  Purchasers of drinks cans bring them back to store when they are empty and put them into the machine, where they receive a credit note to spend in store on other purchases.  This incentivises customers to bring empties back to store rather than dumping them in the waste or worse still throwing them in a hedge by a roadside.”

The motion to Oldham Council on September 9 reads:

Let’s all do our bit to tackle litter

Council is committed to tackling litter in our Borough and to working for cleaner streets and public spaces across our communities.

Council notes that:

• The Keep Britain Tidy Campaign offers local authorities the opportunity to become a member of a Network, which provides access to specialist advice and support.
• Keep Britain Tidy is hosting the Great British September Clean-Up from 11-27 September.
• The campaign is also promoting a Love Parks campaign and a Charity Bin sponsorship scheme whereby the monies raised from recycling cans deposited in designated local authority bins is contributed to local charities.
• Several national supermarket chains are now operating trials of reverse vending machines, where customers are rewarded for returning used cans and bottles for recycling.
• The Government department DEFRA has also previously published a voluntary code for local businesses and local business partnerships to sign up to and reduce the litter that results from fast food businesses.

Council recognises that:

• Whilst we are committed to tackling litter in our Borough, and to working for cleaner streets and public spaces across our communities, we cannot do this alone.
• In the battle for cleaner streets and public spaces, we must involve the public and our business partners in a co-operative effort.
• There are community champions and organisations commendably ‘doing their bit’.
• The Keep Britain Tidy and DEFRA initiatives provide extra opportunities and an extra incentive for members of the public and business partners to become actively engaged and empowered in tackling the litter which blights our streets.
• In doing their bit, residents and business will help the Council to make the streets, district centres, parks and public amenities of our Borough cleaner and more inviting to residents and visitors.

Council resolves to:

• Promote participation in the Great British September Clean-up to members of the public, community, faith and youth groups, and businesses through our social media, website and existing email-outs to partners.
• Ask the Overview and Scrutiny Board to examine the merits of becoming a local authority member of the Keep Britain Tidy Network, and identify which of the campaign’s initiatives, including Love Parks and Charity Bins, could be introduced in the Borough.
• Ask the Chief Executive to write to national supermarket chains with stores in this borough asking them to consider Oldham as the location for a future trial of a reverse vending machine.
• Promote take up of the DEFRA voluntary code amongst our fast food businesses and local business partnerships and seek their sponsorship for the introduction of a Charity Bin scheme and for public education programmes.

Proposed by: Councillor Diane Williamson

Seconded by: Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani