Join Petersfield Society volunteers as they take to the streets to clear the town of litter and then sort it for analysis and recycling.

The Society reported the findings of its most recent litter pick to a Government consultation that volunteers hope will lead to a deposit and return scheme for drinks containers.

They believe this could reduce litter by as much as 50% and increase the amount of recycled litter.

In the audio diary of this community-wide project, hear from nine of the volunteers including (in order of appearance) Dr Phil Jupp, local children, Damian Hinds MP, Dr Sue Stanley and Cllr Lesley Farrow.

The report was produced by Beth Svarovska who organised the event.

Future litter picks

The next litter pick is between 2 and 10 November. “Clean Up for Remembrance” launches at the Methodist Church between 2 and 4.30pm on Saturday 2 November.

To get involved email litter@petersfieldsociety.org.uk or go to http://www.petersfieldsociety.org.uk/

Photo gallery

60 people of all ages, including Damian Hinds MP, got together for a big community event and cleared the town of litter

Mayor of Petersfield Lesley Farrow (l) with some volunteers close to the railway station.

Some of the litter and some of the 20 volunteers who sorted the litter found in Petersfield. By separating the litter, more of could be recycled.

Dr Phil Jupp is a chemistry researcher who took part in the littersorting. Hear his take on it in the report.

It’s hard and dirty work sorting out litter, but by doing so the volunteers discovered that half of the litter in Petersfield is drinks containers, which was an important statistic to be able to feedback to the Government.

Having transported all 2567 drinks containers separated from the litter to the Heath, 40 volunteers arranged them into giant, 5m high letters spelling out “Clean up”

Volunteers take a vantage point on top of one of the heath barrows to reflect on the drinks containers they have laid out and come together at the end of the project

Credits

Project lead Beth Svarovska, on behalf of Petersfield Society, would like to thank all the volunteers who took part in the project.

Thanks to CPRE for sharing their litter analysis model. Thanks to East Hampshire District Council and Id Verde for lending litterpicking equipment.

Thanks to Petersfield Town Council for permission to use the heath for the arrangement of the drinks containers. Thanks to Lionhouse Surveys for drone photographs.

Audio production: Stephen Martin, Abi Svarovska