We wanted to kick Keep Stowmarket Tidy Week off by celebrating the excellent work of local teenager Robin Basu. Robin is voluntarily litter picking around Stowmarket for one hour every week for a year for his Gold Duke of Edinburgh award. After taking part in our 2020 Superhero litter pick Robin approached us and asked if we would support him in his litter picking efforts. We were more than happy to be able to provide Robin with the equipment he needed.
To highlight Robin’s contribution to our community we asked him some questions about being a Stowmarket Superhero…
How long have you been litter picking for and do you have a set amount of hours you want to reach?
I started litter picking on 26th September 2020. I have completed 23 hours and my aim is to do 52 hours (1 hour a week for a year).
What inspired you to litter pick?
I was concerned about the state of the environment and so decided to make a difference in my community by cleaning up the streets and litter picking. This seemed an achievable goal in which I could see a result every week.
What rubbish do you see discarded the most?
Mostly food packaging, drink cans and lots of plastic.
On average how many bags of litter do you collect a week?
About 1.5 bin bags a week.
Have you/your family been able to make any eco-friendly changes to your lifestyle?
We have done a couple things to change our lifestyle in a more eco-friendly way. We have decided to start composting in the garden, using refillable cleaning products and to recycle our crisp packets at the Red Gables in Stowmarket every month.
After
Before
What would you say to anyone considering litter picking?
With just an hour a week I feel that I have made a massive difference to helping the environment. So anyone who wants to do this, definitely should. Imagine the change we all could make, if we all litter picked for an hour a week. All small things add up to a big difference. Also one of the best things is you feel really satisfied with your results by cleaning up an area!
What would you say to people who drop litter?
All the litter which is dropped and discarded, is extremely bad for the environment. It takes years and years to decompose. It contaminates the water and the soil, and can be harmful to animals. So just bring you rubbish home or put it in a bin.
What do you think companies can do to stop their customers from littering?
Companies could put adverts online or on the television supporting anti-litter campaigns. They could use more biodegradable packaging and less plastics. Customers could return their empty packaging and get a discount off their next takeaway meal.
Do you want to carry on litter picking after you’ve finished your DofE?
Absolutely, I will continue to litter pick and change my lifestyle in a more beneficial way to the environment.
Has the litter you’ve seen discarded made you change your mind about what you buy or who you buy from?
I use a reusable water bottle, and when I go shopping I bring bags from home. This minimizes the amount of plastic bottles and bags I have to buy.