7:00am Thursday 12th March 2009
By Paula Roberts
COUNCILS spend a massive £7.6 million a year in Dorset and the New Forest cleaning up after the public.
This huge figure covers the cost of picking up litter and street sweeping in our towns, villages, beaches and open spaces.
Campaign groups and town halls say the cash could be better spent on other areas if people simply cleaned up after themselves.
The amount of rubbish dropped annually has shot up by 500 per cent since the 1960s, costing local authorities an estimated £500 million. A report published this week by the Campaign for Rural England suggested a national body should be created to co-ordinate anti-littering initiatives.
Author Bill Bryson, chairman of the CPRE, said: “We must build civic pride in clean an tidy environments, with communities competing to be spotless.”
The Borough of Poole spends approximately £1.8 million cleaning streets, open spaces and beaches and street cleansing operations cost Bournemouth council £2,131,000.
Bournemouth council said education is the key to reduce the amount of litter.
Cllr Robert Lawton, cabinet member for environment and economy, said: “Everyone knows that litter belongs in the bin, from young children to adults, but unfortunately people need reminding of this.
“People need to be more socially aware of the consequences of leaving litter.
“It is a considerable cost to the council and ultimately to ratepayers. We would much rather spend this money on schools, on transport and improving the roads.”
New Forest District Council spends over £1,250,000 on cleaning the streets and picking up litter.
The council is currently holding its annual spring clean – a joint project with the National Park Authority and the Forestry Commission encouraging people to take part in a series of litter picks.
Christchurch Borough Council spends £400,000 a year for litter collection, street sweeping and emptying litter and dog bins. Purbeck District Council spends £397,800.
West Dorset District Council spends £916,000, North Dorset spends £475,000 and East Dorset District Council spends approximately £225,000 picking up litter off the streets and roadsides.
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