Community involvement

We appreciate the work by residents and businesses helping to maintain the environment by arranging volunteer litter picks.  We would still urge all volunteers to:

• Maintain social distancing
• Please don’t attend if you are feeling unwell
• If you can, please take a lateral flow test, before attending
• If possible, please wear a face covering 

Please follow the latest government guidance.

It is recommended that the following items should be used at all times by volunteers undertaking litter picks: gloves, reflective hi-visibility waistcoats or light coloured clothing, litter pickers (supplied by the Council, subject to availability), and strong boots or shoes. Mobile phones should also be carried to contact the emergency services (if required).

Certain materials may be encountered during litter picks and should be treated with caution, such as broken glass, drug-related litter/hypodermics, suspect materials and fly tipping. If there is any doubt about an item, leave it, and let the Council know as specialist removal may be required.

• Litter picking of areas besides roads should be carried out with extreme caution, due to the risk of being struck by vehicles.
• Litter picking should be restricted to areas where there are wide verges or pavements, suitable for pedestrians, and should be carried out facing oncoming traffic.
• It is essential when litter picking adjacent to busy roads that hi-visibility garments are worn and that the litter picks are only conducted in good visibility conditions.  Volunteers should never clear litter from highways.
• Avoid reaching into hedges or undergrowth that may expose the face, eyes and skin to scratches from thorns or branches.
• Avoid working close to rivers and ditches or on steep slopes, as there is an increased risk of slips and falls.
• If an item of litter cannot be safely reached with a litter picker, leave it.
• Be mindful of wildlife. Avoid disturbing animals and birds that may be nesting and also be wary of wasp and bee nests.
• Do not enter an area, or attempt to litter pick an area, where works are restricted, are already taking place (for example roadworks) or where the public does not have a right to entry.

Volunteers should be aware of the risk of injury by carrying bags of collected litter and attempting to lift and carry heavy materials. To avoid injury, the following basic principals of manual handling should be applied:

• Use litter pickers to prevent constant bending and stretching.
• Make sure an item is safe to handle with no sharp edges or hazardous contents.
• Avoid cuts to legs by ensuring that glass and other sharps are placed in sturdy containers, and not directly into the plastic bags.
• Decide if an item can be safely moved either by one or two people.
• Only try to move an item if this can be done so without straining.
• When lifting an item, bend the legs and keep the back straight.

Litter picking is an outdoor event and volunteers need to be appropriately dressed. Poor visibility conditions resulting from time of day or weather conditions may significantly increase the risks associated with litter picking, especially on roads. Consideration should be given to arranging the event for suitable times of day and suspending the event if visibility reduces.

Age plays a big part in people's ability to recognise and avoid risk. With that in mind, an adult should always supervise volunteers under the age of 18 and permission for their participation should be gained from a parent or guardian. In the interest of safeguarding children, adults tasked with supervising or working with volunteers under the age of 18 should be Criminal Record Bureau checked.

To avoid illness from poor hygiene, all those taking part in the litter pick should:

• Wear gloves at all times
• Cover any cuts or grazes with surgical tape or waterproof plasters
• Avoid rubbing the mouth and eyes whilst working
• Wash hands and forearms before eating, drinking, smoking or going to the toilet.

Volunteer litter pickers organising and supervising their own community litter pick are not required to hold insurance for this type of activity.  However, if you are part of a voluntary or residents group and will be undertaking litter picks on a regular basis you may want to consider purchasing your own liability insurance.  Whether you are taking part in a community litter pick as part of a one off or regular activity it is strongly recommended that the Risk Assessment Form in the downloads section of this page is completed prior to the activity taking place. 

If volunteer litter pickers are taking part in a Council organised and supervised litter pick by volunteering on Council business the activities will be covered by our Public Liability policy (eg. Injury to third parties).   

If you require further information on #KeepYourStreetNeat please contact the Street Cleansing Team.

​​​​​​Disclaimer: Volunteers should not participate in litter picks unless they understand and accept that participation is entirely at their own risk.  Volunteers are not working for, or on behalf of Wolverhampton City Council and therefore the Council cannot be held liable for any loss, damage or injury caused as a result of the actions and omissions of volunteers.