From 1 September 2008, local groups will be invited to sign up to a national campaign and take part in the nation’s biggest ever litter tidy up. The event is open to all, from individuals wanting to clean up a particular area to groups, organisations or businesses looking for a team challenge to help to get their local area clean.

If anyone would like to take part and is looking for an area to clean, Harlow Council can help you find just the spot.  Email contact@harlow.gov.uk and use the subject title ‘Big Tidy Up’ and someone will get back to you with a suitable location. If you want your litter to be collected, use the same email address and title and Kier Harlow will ensure that the litter you collect is safely taken away and disposed of.

Litter can be collected by Kier Harlow between Monday and Fridays only, registered group organisers must contact Harlow Council prior to the litter pick to confirm collection.

Registering for the event is easy. Simply visit the Big Tidy Up website www.thebigtidyup.org  to register your interest online and receive a free tidy up kit.

Chair of the Environment and Community Committee Councillor Eddie Johnson is a great supporter of the event and will be taking part himself.  "People can really make a difference to the environment by joining in with the Big Tidy Up.  We will be writing to schools, organisations and clubs, businesses and residents association in Harlow to tell them about the event and encourage them to sign up and take part, and we’ll support them as much as we can to carry out the tidy up.

"Don’t forget to take photos of the area you decide to tidy before and after the event. Give us your permission and send them to us we will make them into a display to show just what a difference you have made."   

To support the Big Tidy Up, Harlow Council has a supply of litter pickers which it will make available for use during the Big Tidy Up.  Email contact@harlow.gov.uk and title it 'Big Tidy Up' if you are interested in borrowing them for your tidy up day. The Council will co-ordinate their use to make sure that as many groups as possible can use them, and also has a limited supply of extra bin bags if they are needed.

ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns) is an environmental charity who campaign directly to the public.