Now in its third year, this years campaign is set to tackle more than just rubbish. With the backing of Suffolk police we'll also be hoping to combat other anti social behaviour activities like fly tipping and graffiti
The "Don't be a Tosser" initiative was first launched in January 2008 by BBC Radio Suffolk Breakfast presenter Mark Murphy. Mark was so appalled by the amount of rubbish on our roadsides he decided something needed to be done about it. So Mark joined forces with the Creating the Greenest County team, Suffolk County Council and Waste Recycling Group to inspire people of all ages to organise clear ups countywide. Thanks to everyone who has played their part, Suffolk is now a much cleaner greener county to live in.
This year the campaign will tackle more than just litter. It's hoped with the backing of all our Suffolk councils and Suffolk police that fly tipping and graffiti will become a thing of the past too.
In fact this year more and more people are helping us to spread the message.
Suffolk brewer Adnams is providing 20,000 beer mats with the new "Don't be a Tosser 2010" logo. They will be distributing 10,000 of them to their own outlets. We will have 10,000 to distribute ourselves....so if you run a pub or club why not contact us and help spread the word.
The Suffolk County Council household waste recycling team is providing 20,000 new "Don't be a Tosser 2010" car stickers, they have branded a container and lorry promoting the message. The container will be available for larger litter picks and events. They will also act as a distribution network for us. So if you fancy a sticker or poster for your car or shop window then just pop along to one of the 18 household waste recycling centres and pick one up.
We have a selection of brand new anti litter posters specifically for schools. These are being sent to all schools in Suffolk. It's hoped that not only will they be displayed in classrooms but that schools will also organise litter clear ups themselves.
Each parish council in Suffolk is being encouraged to display our new "Don't be a Tosser 2010" posters on their notice boards and it's hoped communities will rally around as before to clear up their local area.
The posters vary in size from A4 to A1. These will also be available from your 44 local libraries in Suffolk and from the mobile libraries too. The Suffolk police safer neighbourhood teams across the county will also be encouraging fast food outlets and businesses to display the posters and window stickers.
We'd like to say thank you to everyone who gets involved this year and so to show our appreciation we have produced litter angel certificates.
Mark Murphy says " I'm bowled over by the amount of people who care as passionately as me about keeping Suffolk clean. It's all about spreading the message not to throw rubbish down in the first place and the more places who can display our stickers and posters the better. We want to see it in shop windows, the back of cars and everywhere people will sit up and take notice".
If you want to organise a clear up near you it's important you contact your local council who can help with high visibility jackets, bags, pick sticks and the all important disposal of your collected waste.
- Babergh - openspace@babergh.gov.uk or call 01473 826654
- Forest Heath - Lee Wiliams - lee.williams@forest-heath.gov.uk or call 01638 719405
- Ipswich - Glynis Wood - Glynis.wood@ipswich.gov.uk or call 01473 432994
- Mid Suffolk - Sarah Carter, sarah.carter@midsuffolk.gov.uk or call 01449 724946
- St. Edmundsbury - Andrew Harvey, andrew.harvey@stedsbc.gov.uk or call 01284 757687
- Suffolk Coastal - Daniel Wareing, Daniel.wareing@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk or call 01394 444044.
- Waveney - Mike Daniels, mike.daniels@ncsgrp.co.uk or call 01502 527155
- Suffolk County Council – Mark Deer, Mark Deer@suffolk.gov.uk or call 08456 066 067
