Litter Free B on C FAQ

What is Litter Free B-on-C?

We are a group of volunteers working to eradicate litter in Burnham-on-Crouch. We aim to have a Community Litter Champion for every street, road, close and green space in Burnham, while inspiring similar action throughout the Dengie. Please sign up as Community Champion for your street by contacting Litter Free B-on-C today! Email dianecarter231965@gmail.com or contact us through our Facebook page . Thank you!

We also organise regular community litter picks in the town and its surrounding roads and lanes, and encourage neighbours, friends, schools, and visitors to be more concerned about litter, and help make Burnham a better place. This is only made possible through the support of our community and from donations.

How big is the litter problem?

Litter affects everyone. It pollutes our environment, kills wildlife and makes our community feel uncared for and unsafe. According to Keep Britain Tidy, 90% of places across the UK are affected by litter. 

How does litter endanger wildlife?

Wild animals and birds eat plastics and other litter, filling their stomachs with rubbish instead of nourishing food. They can become trapped or tangled in litter and die painful deaths. According to National Highways, the RSPCA received over 10,000 reports of animals trapped in discarded rubbish, or killed or injured because of it, in just three years. Microplastics build up in the bodies of smaller animals and are then passed along the food chain, putting all wildlife at risk. In addition, plastics, metals, glass, and other materials can remain in the environment for thousands of years, causing long-lasting problems for wildlife.

Does the Dengie coastline have a litter problem?

The Dengie Peninsula's landscape is defined by its coastline and estuaries. Coastal litter comes from many sources, including fly-tipping; rubbish and fast-food refuse discarded by the public; waste blown into rivers and onto beaches; abandoned fishing nets and lines; items lost or thrown overboard from boats and ships; and sewage-related debris. This spikes during the summer months. The Marine Conservation Society has found that single-use plastics are present on 97% of UK beaches. Meanwhile, the environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage warns that the growing tide of plastic pollution along our coastlines and in our rivers is poisoning us all.

Do cigarette butts cause litter pollution?

Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the UK, even though the number of people who smoke has declined. Cigarette butts contain thousands of chemicals and do not biodegrade. When a smoker throws away a cigarette butt, it is no different to littering any other item. Using a small portable ‘butt box’ keeps this litter off the streets.

Can I make a difference?

Yes, you can. A big difference. Even cleaning up a small area, or picking litter when you go for a walk,  means that everyone gets to live in a better environment and you will keep rubbish away from wildlife. That is why Litter Free B-on-C says ‘’‘every litter bit helps’’.  If you buy fewer plastic and non-essential single use items, reuse materials and recycle correctly, and manage your own household waste responsibly you will also keep more rubbish out of the environment. 

How can I get litter picking equipment? 

If you don’t have your own, Burnham-on-Crouch Town Council provides litter picking sticks and yellow plastic bags to local litter pickers. You can collect these from the Town Council Office in Chapel Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8JA, from 10am to 2pm weekdays. It is important to use yellow bags, as these are the only ones that Maldon District Council refuse collectors will take away when you leave them by a public bin.  Burnham Carnival Committee has funded high visibility vests to keep pickers safe. These can be collected by contacting Diane Carter dianecarter231965@gmail.com

Where can I recycle blister packs?

Lots of people don’t know that blister packs for pills can't be recycled through the pink bag system. However, you can recycle yours through a collection box inside Burnham Surgery on Foundry Lane, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8SJ. The Dengie Climate Action Partnership worked with Maldon District Council and Burnham-on-Crouch Town Council to make this  happen and we hope that the project can be extended throughout the Dengie.

How can I report littering and fly tipping? 

Littering is illegal in the UK. Litter droppers can get fixed penalty notice on-the-spot fine and offenders can also be prosecuted in a magistrate’s court. If you see someone littering, you may be able to report it to the local authority where you saw the incident

Fly-tipping is dangerous, costs a lot of money to clear up, and is a criminal offence. Serious offenders can be fined tens of thousands of pounds or go to prison. 

You can report littering and fly tipping to Maldon District Council here 

You should always check who you pay to take your rubbish away.

What’s the problem, doesn’t the Council clean it up?

Councils do provide road cleaning and waste disposal services. They have a legal duty to keep the land in their area and highways for which they are responsible free from litter.

You can contact your local councillors at Burnham-on-Crouch Town Council, and your District and County Councillors at Maldon District Council and Essex County Council, to ask them to make tackling litter pollution a priority.

However, Council resources are under significant pressure, and they cannot pick up every piece of litter. Community litter pickers play a vital role in preventing our town from becoming overwhelmed by rubbish. Volunteers’ efforts help keep Burnham clean, protect local wildlife and habitats, and create a more pleasant environment for everyone.

Don’t we need to change the whole system?

Litter pollution also needs to be tackled at source, and the solution is a zero-waste society. This means systemic change, with companies ceasing the production and sale of plastic, unnecessary packaging, and polluting materials, and the UK Government delivering legislative change to move the country to waste reduction. Many UK charities are working for bigger picture change, including the Surfers Against Sewage’s Plastic Pollution Campaign   

How do I join Litter Free B-on-C? 

Contact us today! Email dianecarter231965@gmail.com or find us on Facebook