Truckers asked not to be tossers
Motorists and lorry drivers particularly were recently targeted in
a special campaign to remind them not to drop litter which includes
two roadside electronic message boards. The campaign coincided with
the launch of BBC Radio Suffolk's 2012 'Don't be a Tosser'
anti-litter campaign.
The Council’s cleansing partners Suffolk Coastal Services took
the lead on the campaign and have also linked up with the Port of
Felixstowe to help get the message across.
The two solar powered variable message signs were at Trinity
Avenue, Felixstowe near the port, and at the Orwell Crossing,
Nacton on the A14 for four weeks. Photographs of the launch of the
signs can be seen on our
Flickr photostream (new window).
Anti-littering leaflets were handed out to drivers, thanks to
the Port of Felixstowe, at the vehicle check points at the Dock
Gates and were also available at the Orwell Crossing.
It is currently costing Suffolk Coastal around £600,000 a year
to clear up rubbish left around the district, with one team of
workers dedicated to just keeping the A12 and A14 clean and
tidy.
Play your part in making Suffolk Coastal even tidier
Local communities have been playing their part in helping clear
up litter in our district, often linked to either Radio Suffolk’s
'Don’t be a Tosser' campaign (new window) or
the Spring Clean campaign, which have both been supported by
Suffolk Coastal.
The 'Don’t be a Tosser' campaign is now in its fifth
year of encouraging people to take positive action to stop
littering and clear up mess left by the thoughtless actions of
others.
Don’t be a Tosser and help us to reduce litter
You can help us to reduce litter and the cost to clear it up by
following this advice:
- Never drop litter - this includes cigarette ends and chewing
gum.
- Cigarette ends and filters contain carcinogenic and toxic
chemicals which are extremely harmful to the environment, as well
as posing a risk of starting a fire.
- If you are a smoker, always carry something that you can place
your cigarette ends into when you have finished them, that you can
then take home and place in your household refuse bin.
Alternatively stub it out completely and then place it into a
litter bin - many litter bins now have cigarette stubbing plates
for this purpose.
- If you smoke in a vehicle, use its ashtray and then empty into
a bin.
- If you would like a free 'Stubbi' pocket ashtray for your
cigarette ends, please contact Suffolk Coastal Services on
01394 444000 or email
scsltd@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.
- Litter also includes chewing gum, which is extremely
difficult and expensive to remove from surfaces, so always put used
chewing gum in a bin.
- Never release balloons into the air - they can travel great
distances and can be very harmful to wildlife.
- Take all your litter home, placing any any recyclable litter
(for example, plastic containers, newspapers, cans, and tins) into
your blue lidded recycling bin. Alternatively, use a litter bin if
there is one available - some litter bins also have separate
compartments for recyclable items.
- Recycle glass drinks bottles in a bottle bank - if necessary,
take them home and store them until you have enough to take
to a
local recycling point. Glass litter,
particularly broken glass, can be dangerous to children, pets,
wildlife and adults. In this dry area it can also cause devastating
and expensive fires by magnifying sunlight.
- Try not to use disposable barbecues as these cannot be easily
recycled and can be dangerous when left as well as extremely
difficult to dispose of safely.
Remember - Council Tax payers have to pay for
tackling all damage caused by litter and for its clearance. By all
working together to clear up litter, we can not only keep our
district even tidier but also cut down the cost to Suffolk Coastal
and its Council Tax payers.