Equipment & Further Help

To ensure the safety of your volunteers the following arrangements will have to be made prior to your tidy up.

You will need a supply of rubbish sacks some of which you will find in your kit. It may also be helpful to buy string and sticky tape to seal them. Other clean up equipment will come in useful, depending on the nature, type and size of your event and the resources available to you. Your local council will be able to help you with some of the following:

• As well as refuse sacks, clean up equipment could include litter pickers, wheelbarrows, rakes and shovels
• Broken glass, sharp metal, etc. will break through refuse sacks and may cause injury. Have safe containers for their collection if you are removing this type of litter
• For even the smallest tidy up, have a first aid kit and antibacterial wipes (remember to let your volunteers know who is the first aider).
• For a large scale event you could contact your local ambulance service or voluntary first aid organisations such as the Red Cross or St John Ambulance for advice. They may even be able to provide cover and assistance
• If you are likely to come across hypodermic needles or drugs-related litter do not touch these. Have a contact number for the council who will organise a rapid response service for their removal
• Have a skip or other means of efficient removal of collected rubbish after your event
• Have access to mobile phones to stay in contact
• Arrange specialist help such as the council, police, fire brigade, armed forces or a professional company if clearing abandoned cars or heavy objects

Protective Gear and Equipment

Make a list of useful equipment and work out who will provide what. Check if any volunteers can provide their own equipment. Your local council may also be able to help or advise on obtaining protective wear or equipment.

In addition to the free materials that you will find in your tidy up pack, it is recommended that you purchase heavy duty work gloves for your tidy up. It is important that you choose gloves that are made of a suitable material which will not tear and will protect your volunteers throughout the tidy up.

It is important to purchase some sturdy litter pickers to help your volunteers. Our useful organisations section will direct you to companies who will offer a discount on litter pickers if you mention the Big Tidy Up.