Gloucestershire cleans up for World Environment Day

The Midcounties Co-operative is calling for people living across Gloucestershire to take action against littering by joining community clean ups, as part of an initiative for World Environment Day.

Armed with high vis jackets and litter picks, colleagues and members have joined forces with young person’s charity the Aston Project to take part in a community clean-up starting at 4.30pm on 5^th June at The Midcounties Co-operative’s Food store in Churchdown.

As well as the clean-ups, Midcounties is encouraging people to make one eco-friendly pledge that will make a long-lasting impact, for example giving up plastic bottles or plastic bags, as part of its 1Change campaign. Launched earlier this year, the 1Change initiative highlights the small everyday changes shoppers can make including using a bag-for-life or reusable cups for hot drinks that together can have a huge impact in reducing consumption of single-use plastics.

The Society has coordinated 20 community clean-ups across Oxfordshire, the West Midlands, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, and has received the endorsement of environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy for the project.

Mike Pickering, CSR Manager at The Midcounties Co-operative, said: “At The Midcounties Co-operative, we believe that community-focused action can have a big impact. Our clean-up on 5^th June aims to empower people to take more care over their communities and raise awareness about littering and plastic pollution.

“We want to inspire people to make a pledge to help tackle single use plastics, whether that be avoiding single-use plastic where possible or re-using waste materials to create something useful.  We’d encourage anyone and everyone to get involved and work together to make a positive impact to our environment.”

Allison Ogden-Newton, Chief Exec of Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Following the monumental success of this year’s Great British Spring Clean, it is inspiring to see community-focused businesses like The Midcounties Co-operative continue the clean-up effort beyond the campaign.

“Here at Keep Britain Tidy we would encourage all high street retailers to get out and clean-up all year round. We know that litter breeds litter so the cleaner we keep our streets, the cleaner they will stay.”

World Environment Day is an annual event organised by the United Nations which encourages awareness and action to protect our environment worldwide. Midcounties’ campaign aims to deliver on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, which include responsible consumption and production, and developing sustainable communities.  

The Midcounties is committed to enhancing its community and Midcounties colleagues in Gloucestershire have already committed over 900 volunteering hours in 2019.

You can sign up to take part in the clean ups here – https://www.midcounties.coop/events/member-events/community-litter-pick—volunteer-to-tackle-plastic-pollution/

To sign up to the 1Change campaign – https://www.midcounties.coop/news/1change-our-initiative-to-tackle-single-use-plastic/