Bin it to win it

Four iPods are up for grabs. To be in with a chance of winning one, all you have to do is make sure you put your litter in the bin.

Hackney Council’s Waste, Street Cleansing and Enforcement services will be out and about in the Borough during September.

We will be looking out for people who are helping to keep Hackney clean by placing their litter in the bins, so that we can thank them personally and invite them to take part in a free prize draw to win one of 4 iPods. The competition will run throughout September 2008 and the four winners will be notified by 30 October 2008.

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A crackdown on litter louts who blight Hackney has been launched this month.

The aim is to target the few people who carelessly litter the borough, with little thought of the effect on other people and the environment.

Four teams of Council enforcement officers will be taking action against anyone they catch flyposting, dropping litter, not cleaning up after their dogs, or defacing buildings.

Offenders face on-the-spot fines and could be prosecuted. Action will also be taken against businesses that are not disposing of waste responsibly.

It cost £9million to clean up 10,852 tonnes of rubbish from Hackney streets last year – money that could be better spent on other services.

The Council has dramatically improved the cleanliness of Hackney’s streets in recent years. A team of 90 street cleaners work round the clock, with the help of residents and businesses who take pride in the place they live and work. Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe said: “Residents have long told me that keeping the streets clean and tidy is one of their most important concerns.

“I am determined to continue to drive for making Hackney the cleaner, safer and greener place we all deserve. But it takes everybody to play their part. It’s not difficult, and there is really no excuse for the thoughtless – and filthy – minority to ruin Hackney for the rest of us, as well as causing the waste of millions of taxpayers' money.

“The cleanliness of streets affects civic pride, community spirit and the reputation of a place.”

A recent survey bore this out, when over 600 people from the borough were asked what they thought about street cleanliness.

The survey was part of Hackney Matters, a new epanel that helps the Council find out more from residents.

It showed 90 per cent of residents were really annoyed by people dropping litter. A huge 96 per cent believed we all have a duty to keep our streets clean and it’s not just up to the Council.

There was a small minority – eight per cent – who admitted dropping litter when nobody is looking.

The biggest litter problem in Hackney is from smokers. Many don’t see themselves as litter louts, yet drop cigarette butts on the pavement.

This year, the Council is also spending an additional £395,000 to double the number of graffiti-busting teams, boost fly-poster removal, and increase the number of street cleaners. They will focus on town centre areas, and sweeping up to 200 of the borough’s roads more regularly.

Mayor Pipe added: “Making Hackney’s streets among the cleanest in London relies on everyone playing their part."

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Page updated: 12 Sep 2008