Huge litter pick after roadside rubbish clean-up in West Bromwich
A desperate plea has been made by a council leader urging people not to throw litter out of their cars after nearly 100 bags of rubbish were collected from one road in just two days.
A litter pick on the A41 Expressway in West Bromwich saw nearly 100 bags of rubbish collected.
The "shocking" amount of rubbish has prompted Sandwell Council’s deputy leader to urge people not to throw litter on the ground or from their vehicles.
Councillor Maria Crompton, Sandwell Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for safer communities, said people throwing litter were "selfish" and "made Sandwell look a mess".
She said: "Last weekend our street cleansing teams collected 96 bags of rubbish on the A41 over two days in the wind and rain.
“Cleaning up on busy roads is dangerous and we have to do lots of planning to close lanes to keep staff safe without causing too much disruption to traffic.
"The A41 seems to get it worse than other routes. It’s a combination of litter thrown from vehicles plus litter from the town centre that blows onto the dual carriageway.
"Either way this is totally unnecessary and blights our landscape."
Councillor Crompton added: "Our waste partner Serco is having to close lanes and get teams of people out to pick up every piece of litter.
“I want to make a plea to people – please do not throw your litter on the floor or out of the car window.
"This route is cleaned four times a year as it is difficult, it requires a lane closure. Our message to people is use a bin or take their litter home.
“I would also like to thank the team for their hard work – it’s made a real difference, though sadly we are now seeing the rubbish build up again.
“Please, don’t throw litter out of your window as you drive past, it makes your towns look a mess.”
