Britain's Best Environmental Campaign Is Back!

 A THREE-MONTH campaign of hard-hitting action has been launched to tackle a range of enviro-crime across northern Leicestershire.

The award-winning Don’t Muck Around campaign, a joint initiative between Charnwood Borough Council and North West Leicestershire District Council, kicked off today (Wednesday, September 5) to help reduce cigarette litter, dog fouling and raise awareness of residents’ Duty of Care around fly-tipping.

Throughout September, the campaign will focus on cigarette litter with a high-profile launch in Loughborough Town Centre featuring an ‘ash mob’ of cigarette ends.

Officers in North West Leicestershire counted more than 1,000 cigarette ends in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Kegworth and Castle Donnington.

More than 1,200 cigarette ends were counted in three small areas of Loughborough, Shepshed and Syston in just seven short visits. There will be another monitoring stint after the campaign.

The Councils will work with local businesses, including McDonald’s, and the NHS smoking cessation service to promote the campaign, reduce litter and help people kick the habit.

In October, the campaign switches its attention to dog fouling – one of the biggest sources of environmental complaint received by both councils.

And in November, the Councils want to raise awareness of Duty of Care – an offence which can see residents prosecuted if they don’t make proper checks on the people who remove waste from their homes.

Councillor Jane Hunt, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Regulatory Services, said: “Last year’s Don’t Muck Around was a fantastic success for both councils and we are committed to continuing that work in 2012.

“Using public participation events, education and enforcement, we hope to see reductions in incidents and, importantly, an increased awareness of the penalties of committing these offences.

“The environment is everyone’s responsibility. Local authorities cannot alone keep it tidy so I hope as many people as possible take note of the campaign and start helping us keep our Borough clean.”

Councillor Alison Smith, North-West Leicestershire District Council’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: “We saw last year the importance of awareness-raising campaigns and we want people to continue to take responsibility and help us reduce the number of incidents we have to tackle.”

The “ash mob” event to kick-start Don’t Muck Around has also won the support of the manager of the Stop! Smoking service run by the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Louise Ross, STOP! Smoking Services and Tobacco Control Manager, said: “Smoking causes more deaths than drug use, road accidents, other accidents and falls, preventable diabetes, suicide and alcohol abuse combined. Stopping smoking adds years to your life and life to your years.

 “As far as litter is concerned, cigarette ends can be the worst sort as they take years to break down. They make our streets look awful.”

A total of 5,377 smokers in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland have successfully quit smoking using the Stop! Smoking Service. 1,109 of these were from Charnwood.

Louise added: “If anyone wants to stop smoking, inspired by the great work that the Don’t Muck Around team is doing, they can call 0845 045 2828 to get an appointment, or text 07717 420 560 and they will receive a call back.”

McDonald’s restaurant in Loughborough is supporting the blitz on cigarette ends. A spokesman said: “Our restaurants operate very much as part of their local community and, quite naturally, take pride in the appearance of the local environment. Our commitment is to tackle litter in as many different ways we can.”

Last year, Don’t Muck Around was crowned Britain’s best environmental campaign, winning the People’s Choice and Innovation gongs at the Keep Britain Tidy Network awards.

The 2011 blitz, which ran between June and September, saw an overall 50 per cent fall in litter from cars, a 14 per cent reduction in fly-tipping and a 41 per cent drop in dog fouling across both districts. Council enforcement officers also got tough on offenders by issuing 53 Fixed Penalty Notices.

People can follow the campaign on Facebook (www.facebook.com/dontmuck) and Twitter (#dontmuckaround) or by checking Council websites www.charnwood.gov.uk/dontmuckaround2012 or www.nwleics.gov.uk/dontmuckaround2012

To report offences in Charnwood call in confidence on 01509 634564 or email cleaner.greener@charnwood.gov.uk. To report offences in North West Leicestershire call in confidence on 01509 454545.