Volunteers Wanted For City Spring Clean

The city’s annual spring clean is on again this month and organisers are calling for volunteers to help make the city sparkle. The event, coordinated in Christchurch by Keep Christchurch Beautiful, is part of the international United Nations “Clean Up The World” programme.

The weeklong clean up gets under way on 16 September. As in previous years, the event relies on individuals, groups, schools and businesses picking a site in their local area and cleaning it up.

Christchurch City Council spokesperson for the event, Chris Byrch, says Clean Up The World is an event that everyone can get involved in.

"Groups will be cleaning up parks, schools and car parks. Some groups are cleaning off graffiti and others removing rubbish from waterways.”

While some groups may have specific sites in mind, Chris says a list of sites that need cleaning up is also available, if anyone needs ideas. The Council is supplying gloves and rubbish bags. Hire a Hubby will be helping to remove the rubbish collected.

"Some clean-ups are an hour long, others a day and some are organised for the entire week," she says.

A major site chosen for an organised clean up this year is along the Waimakariri River bank, starting at McLeans Island. The clean up is being held on Saturday 21 September from 9am to 3pm and everyone is welcome.

Chris says that people can arrive or leave at anytime. “There will be signage so people will know where to go. The turn off is a shingle road on the right just after the Salmon Farm on McLeans Island Road.”

The global Clean Up The World campaign mobilises millions of volunteers in more than 100 countries to undertake a wide range of environmental issues. First held in 1993, Clean Up The World aims to reduce the 650 billion tonnes of waste produced by the world’s cities each year. The long-term goal is to reduce waste by changing attitudes and behaviour.

Keep Christchurch Beautiful is a voluntary organisation, which aims to promote a litter free, more beautiful environment within Christchurch. It is largely funded by the Christchurch City Council.

For more information about the event, including how to get involved, contact Angela Robinson at The Events Company on 332 9797.