Plastics industry unites for litter-free streets

Three leading plastics industry trade associations have pledged their endorsement for a new campaign, which aims to tackle littering by changing public perceptions.

Plastics 2020 (BPF, PAFA and Plastics Europe) have joined forces with Westminster City Council, Veolia, INCPEN and others, to support the ‘Neat Streets’ project an initiative brought to fruition by charity, Hubbub.

Launching in the London borough of Westminster, the campaing will involve a series of interactive installations and exhibitions over the summer in Villiers Street (near Charing Cross railway station) that will trial new ways of encouraging people not to litter.

“We are delighted to be supporting such a truly innovative project,” said the BPF’s Public & Industrial Affairs Manager, Sarah Plant. “Campaigns such as this one which focus on changing behaviour are long overdue – after all, its people that litter not products. Plastics are a valuable resource that form an integral element of just about everything we use and need in our daily routines and should not be littered.”

The project has already attracted significant interest from national media, attracting coverage in the Observer, Huffington Post, Express and through broadcast media on BBC Radio London and BBC 5 Live.

Announcing the launch of the project at the Alma Hotel in Charing Cross, Trewin Restorick, CEO and Founder of Hubbub said it is up to “ all of us to take action” to tackle litter. “We have found the best new approaches from around the world and are launching Neat Streets with a series of interactive installations throughout the summer to engage the public, raise awareness of littering and ultimately to change people’s behaviour,” Restorick added.