reg charity no 1116739

Achievements 

Spring Clean 2009 again demonstrated an impressive commitment to a cleaner Oxford, community spirit and civic pride.  Massive quantities of litter and scrap that had been blighting our beautiful city were cleared away.
 

• Approximately 100 community groups – including 23 schools – organised two hour litter picks at locations of their choice across the city. 

• Over fifteen hundred highly motivated, good humoured volunteers took part. 

• Geographic coverage of the city was good with an improved number of groups in the south and east of the city taking part. 

• Specific locations tackled included grotspots, stretches of the Thames and canal: parks; nature reserves; sports field; playparks; paths along Ring Road and A40; cycle ways; schools; car parks; church yards.  

• The diversity of groups joining in illustrates the breadth of support across the city’s communities.  Amongst those taking part were schoolchildren – nursery, primary and secondary; students – Brookes University and Oxford and Cherwell Valley College; church congregations; cyclists; residents’ associations; businesses; political groups; youth groups; allotment associations; canoeists, rowers and boaters, environmentalists. 

• Litter collected was equivalent to 875 household collections - a 24% increase over 2008.  Scrap removed decreased by 11%.

• We think the increase was due to greater time spent picking due to better weather, less time spent retrieving scrap, increased coverage of grot spots and groups fielding stronger teams rather than there being an increase in litter in the city. 

• Public awareness of the litter problem was significantly heightened by extensive coverage in The Oxford Times, Oxford Mail, Oxford Star, Leys News, BBC TV South Today, Radio Oxford and Jack FM.  ‘Just Cleaned’ signs were displayed at newly picked locations across the city. 

• OxClean’s ‘Don’t Drop It!’ has been launched with nearly 300 posters displayed on all Oxford Bus Company city buses, community notice boards and a number of Bus Shelters courtesy of Oxford City Council.  Over 4,000 ‘Don’t Drop It!’ roundels have been distributed for display in car, shop etc windows.  Language Schools are signing up to a new Voluntary Code of Practice. The Schools’ Anti-Litter Campaign is now in its third year and includes all 32 primary schools and 5 secondary schools.