A local council has cleared nearly 80 tonnes of waste during a two-week purge on graffiti and littering.

East Cambridgeshire District Council, who now deliver waste collection and street cleansing through their trading company, East Cambs Street Scene (ECSS), actioned this as their next step in a district-wide waste management plan.

ECSS has been targeting the seasonal issue of leaf clearing as well as tackling graffiti and clearing gum from the district’s pavements.

500 individual graffiti wipes were used to remove graffiti by hand and 100 litres of water were used through the steam cleaner to remove stubborn graffiti.

There were approximately 200 individual cases of graffiti removed across the district.

This major clean up follows on from a week-long purge on fly-tipping in May, which saw over 40 tonnes of waste collected.

Councillor Julia Huffer, service delivery champion for waste services at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “It’s been astounding to see the results of this seasonal purge on graffiti, litter and leaf clearing.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved as they have made such an outstanding difference.
“We live a beautiful area of the country and we hope to keep it this way with the waste services being in East Cambs Street Scene’s control.
“It’s been a fantastic six months which have seen our very own Michael Recycle become an award winner.
“This shows that our work to promote the importance of recycling is also recognised by our peers.”

East Cambridgeshire District Council were recently awarded gold at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Pride awards for the Anglia, Thames and Chiltern region for in the education campaign category.

Following the purge, East Cambs Street Scene are encouraging residents to report any incidents of graffiti or littering on the East Cambs website, so they can be dealt with in a timely manner.

Councillor Anna Bailey, chair of the Regulatory Services Committee and deputy leader for East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “It’s crucial that residents report any graffiti or littering as and when they see it.
“This ensures our streets are kept clean and in conjunction with the police, the evidence can be used to find the perpetrators.
“It is our vision to have East Cambs remain a great place to live, work and visit, and this is one way we can help residents feel proud of where they live.”

East Cambridgeshire District Council have also pledged their support to the Chewing Gum Action Group’s ‘Bin It Your Way’ campaign, which aims to help create a cleaner, more attractive environment for residents, visitors and businesses in the area.

To assist, ECSS have been, and will continue to use, their street cleansing vehicles to eradicate gum and litter from the district’s town centres and villages. So far, the campaign has seen a 28% reduction in Ely city centre.

For more information on the waste management services provided by East Cambs Street Scene, visit the East Cambridgeshire District Council website: https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/content/recycling-and-waste-ecss