It has been calculated that over the past five-months a total of 2,305 household sized bin bags of litter has been collected from the streets of Newcastle by community groups and volunteer organisations (this is in addition to the Council’s other waste collection services).
If all of the bin bags were individually stacked up it would be the equivalent of 28.80 Grey’s Monuments, 12.39 Statues of Liberty and 3.82 Eiffel Towers.
The clean-up operations are part of Newcastle City Council’s hard-hitting, no nonsense environment campaign “Keep it Clean”.
The maths….
1 x average sized household bin bag (when full and tied) = 50cm high (approx.)
2,305 bin bags x 50cms = 115,250 cm (1,152.50 metres)
The column of Grey’s Monument = 40metres tall (4,000 cm)
4,000 divided by 50 = 80 (bin bags tall)
115,250 cm (height of total bin bag numbers) divided by 4,000 cm (height of Monument) = 28.8
1 x average sized household bin bag (when full and tied) = 50cm high (approx.)
The Statue of Liberty = 93metres tall (9,300cm)
9,300 divided by 50 = 186 (bin bags tall)
115,250 cm (height of total bin bag numbers) divided by 9,300cm = 12.39
1 x average sized household bin bag (when full and tied) = 50cm high (approx.)
The Eiffel Tower is 301metres tall (30,100 cm)
30,100 divided by 50 = 602 (bin bags tall)
115,250 cm (height of total bin bag numbers) divided by 30,100 cm (Eiffel Tower) = 3.82
The Council’s “Keep it Clean” campaign is aimed at encouraging behavioural change amongst people who litter, fly-tip and don’t pick up after their pets in Newcastle. It is hoped this campaign will help to stamp out a problem that has a knock-on effect across the city.
There are over 60 community groups and organisations in Newcastle who have committed to doing their own activities to keep their neighbourhoods clean and tidy. In relation to the 2,305 number of bin bags the total includes community clean up exercises, community payback schemes and the NE1 Street Rangers (litter collections – throughout the city).
Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services at Newcastle City Council, Cllr Nick Kemp, said: “We are extremely proud of Newcastle and believe that a tidy litter free city is something we should all want. The Council takes the issue of littering, fly-tipping and dog fouling very seriously as it not only puts pressure onto our resources but it can pose a significant health risk to residents.”
“As a council we will look to penalise those offenders through prosecution, fixed penalties, and seizing tippers’ vehicles. Those people who discard rubbish through their lazy and unthoughtful actions are damaging our city instead of everyone taking pride in our community.”
Cllr Kemp continues by talking about the issues of fly-tipping and littering: “We ask that people think and behave considerately before fly-tipping and dropping litter. We have to make difficult decisions in running the council and making choices especially as we are facing a number of serious financial challenges.
“We strongly urge people to think about their actions and the longer lasting results to the local community from when they drop litter and rubbish onto the streets.”
The next instalment of the Keep it Clean advertising campaign will be hitting billboards and telephone booths in littering hotspots across the city week commencing 10th August.
For further information about “Keep it Clean” please visit the “Environment and Waste” section of the Council’s website www.newcastle.gov.uk