Latest news with #communitycleaning
Fox News
07-07-2025
- Fox News
Mysterious 'tire traps' plague city streets as locals take matters into their own hands
A popular city has locals taking to the streets to help crack down on the "tire traps" that are scattered across busy roads. Volunteers in Jakara, Indonesia, have been picking up nails, threaded bolts and scraps of umbrella frames, according to The Associated Press (AP). It is thought the mysterious sharp metal pieces are intentionally left by vandals to damage the tires of vehicles on main roads. What started as a few community members involved in addressing the issue has grown into a movement of locals cleaning the streets called "Sapu Bersih," or the Clean Sweep. Siswanto, a Jakarta resident, told AP he has been picking up metal for five years after his own encounters with the tire traps. "From 2010 to 2016, we collected four tons of nail traps from Jakarta and other areas, like Bekasi," said Siswanto. "We collected them from the volunteers." Siswanto said many volunteers take turns picking up metal before or after work. This apparently occurs all over the city. There were over 10 million people living in Jakarta in 2010, according to Jakarta Investment Center. Jakarta Traffic Police Chief Komarudin told the AP he believes the metal is intended to force bikers to the side of a road with a flat — making riders more vulnerable to serious crimes like robbery. Some locals suspect the traps may have been set by tire repair shops, as metal was found in close proximity. Motorbike taxi driver Pandu Dewanata told the AP he's had at least three tires hit the traps in the past year. "It is suspicious after hitting a nail trap — 100 meters from where we hit there was a tire patchier," said Dewanata. "That is suspicious. But I am not accusing, no." Police have found, while investigating the traps, that there are some nuts or bolts that could accidentally fall from passing vehicles — but many objects appear to be deliberately bent.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Brownies take action against dog fouling in Wetheral
A group of Brownies has been recognised for its efforts to tackle dog fouling. The 1st Wetheral Brownies identified a hotspot along a public path, recording 29 piles of dog mess and handing out poo bags to dog walkers as part of Operation T.U.R.D (Together, United for Responsible Dog Ownership). Their work contributed to earning their 'Speak Out' badge and led to a visit from Cumberland Council officers, who presented them with a certificate of appreciation. Councillor Denise Rollo, executive member for sustainable, resilient and connected places at Cumberland Council, said: "It's fantastic to see our younger residents, like the 1st Wetheral Brownies, showing such commitment to keeping their community clean and taking real pride in where they live. "Congratulations to them on earning their Speak Out badge; they've truly used their voices to make a difference. "Their actions set a powerful example for all of us, from identifying local issues to engaging directly with dog walkers, they've shown maturity, initiative, and genuine community spirit." Operation T.U.R.D aims to promote responsible dog ownership and keep public spaces clean. During the visit, council officers met with Cllr Stephen Higgs, vice chair of the parish council, and landowners from the area to discuss ongoing concerns about dog fouling along the route highlighted by the Brownies. Details provided by the group, including descriptions of walkers and vehicles, are set to be used to support upcoming enforcement work. Cllr Rollo said: "Cumberland Council has a zero-tolerance policy on dog fouling, and this campaign demonstrates that education, engagement, and enforcement can deliver real results. "We're serious about protecting public spaces and ensuring everyone can enjoy clean, safe environments. "When we work together – with responsible dog owners, community groups, and local leaders – we really can make a lasting difference." The council plans to begin 'intensive' patrols in the area as a result of the Brownies' findings. The group is also planning another community litter pick as part of its work towards earning an additional badge.
BBC News
22-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Volunteer record for Peterborough litter picking group
A city litter picking group is reporting a record number of volunteers to help tackle the problem of dumped Litter Wombles Association said its membership had never been so high, with pickers passing 300 for the first group, which formed in 2021, said in the last two years it had collected about 10,000 bags of rubbish, plus many larger fly-tipped group's chairman, Harry Machin, said "all sorts of people from four-year-olds to pensioners approaching 80 love to litter pick". Mr Machin said he was thrilled to see record numbers coming together to clean up the city."It is not all retired people - we have a lot of working volunteers too," he said."There are lots of groups around Peterborough including PE4 Wombles and groups in the Ortons, Hamptons, Dogsthorpe and Bretton, all doing great work and very effective."He said there was a social aspect to joining a litter pick too - and it meant people could meet others and stay fit, while getting the satisfaction from their area being tidier. Samantha Dolby, 48, has been with the Wombles since last April and has a full-time job."I maintain a Womble bin and the lamppost rubbish bags in my area, change them and gather them for collection," she collected "sweet wrappers, vapes, tinned drink cans, alcohol bottles, fag packets, all sorts really", she added."When I'm out and about, if I see any litter, I have to pick it up. I walk my dogs twice a day and always pick up something or other." Margaret Faulkner, 78, has volunteered since Peterborough Litter Wombles formed and said the public really appreciated what the group did."What starts out as a quick litter pick for an hour turns into three hours, because everybody wants to speak to us."Little children all seem to know me and say 'hello' - it really is lovely." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
'I'm a one-man-band Peterborough litter picker with no help'
A man who dreamed of clearing up his city's litter has said he has finally had to accept he is a "one-man band" after almost no-one offered to help him Fishpool, 69, set up the Pride in Peterborough Community Association Facebook group when he retired in 2023, and it had more than 900 he said while people pledged to help his efforts to beautify parts of the city, he has seen only one or two volunteers each Fishpool said he had no intention of halting his solo efforts, but added his "vision" of garnering support and creating little groups of willing volunteers had fallen, rather like discarded litter, by the wayside. Mr Fishpool, who sometimes spends up to 10 hours a day picking up rubbish, has admitted that "it is very addictive".He expected others to share his passion for litter-picking and clearing overgrown public he is now resigned to closing the Facebook group, which he said he would do "with a heavy heart".When he formed the group he said he hoped there would be "people in Peterborough who had jobs but hopefully they could spare a couple of hours at the weekend – or active retired people to come out now and again just to give me a hand". He likes to clear "neglected areas" and then "enhance them" by cutting grass and planting flowers."Over 900 people joined the group but I'd only see one or two volunteers over a period of six months, so I was out every day on my own, making up for the lost time other volunteers couldn't give," Mr Fishpool said."I was a one-man band cleaning up Peterborough."Asked why he had spent so much time and money on tidying up and buying suitable equipment, he said: "I just wanted to pay back for the life I'd had in Peterborough."I haven't got millions of pounds but I could give my manpower and it puts a smile back on to people's faces when they see an area looking neat and tidy."He has renamed his group Mark's Volunteer Community Projects in an attempt to make it clear it is now just him."People would see what I'd done and say, 'Well done team', and I'd want to say, 'Hang on, it was just me doing this'."I had this vision where I would have a nice little group of regular volunteers."I had all these visions of projects we could have tackled, but without the volunteers you just can't... so I'm going to scale down. The local authority can take over."Earlier this year, Peterborough City Council told the BBC that it was "fully committed" to cleaning up litter and fly-tipping, and it encouraged residents to help – either by taking part in organised litter-picks or by reporting thanked volunteers such as Mr Fishpool, but urged them to stay safe and not pick litter from the sides of busy roads. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Volunteers pitch in to spruce up Dudley
A TEAM of volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help spruce up Dudley. The community litter pick in the town centre took place on Wednesday, June 4, and was organised by the Dudley Town Centre Partnership with support from Dudley Council. Volunteers were joined by council officers to collect bags of rubbish from public areas across the town. Councillor Paul Bradley, deputy leader of Dudley Council, said: "It was great to see the volunteers on the litter pick today and meet the incredible community members who are dedicated to keeping Dudley clean. "I would like to thank the Town Centre Partnership for organising this activity, it is shocking to see the amount of litter that people have thrown. "I would encourage anyone visiting the town to be respectful of others and help to keep our town nice by throwing rubbish away properly." The council will now sort through the collected waste and recycle as much as possible. The litter pick forms part of wider efforts by the Town Centre Partnership to improve the area's appearance, boost visitor numbers and support a cleaner environment. Residents and workers interested in volunteering can email dudleytcp@
