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Group litter-picks 🚮
Friends of Cheney Row Park runs several large litter-picks a year. Around 10-20 local volunteers usually take part, and we generally hold these events in the winter months when the greenery has died back and it’s easier to reach litter in the undergrowth. We focus on the park area and the surrounding wildlife corridors and footpaths. Equipment and hot drinks are provided. We’d love to have you join us.
Sign up to our occasional newsletter (in the footer) to hear when the next litter-pick will be.
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Independent litter-picks 🚮
Many people choose to spend half an hour or so litter-picking throughout the year. These small, regular picks really help to keep our environment clean and tidy and complements the council’s weekly sessions. The information on this page is here to support anyone who wants to do their own independent picks.
WhatsApp group
Residents have created a WhatsApp group, Pop Up Picks, to connect people who’d like to litter‑pick with buddies around Cheney Row Park and Higham Hill. It’s also a place to share motivation, equipment, ideas and photos of your achievements.
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Key Information for litter-picking
➡️ Take care of yourself
Be prepared
- Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and safety gloves
- Use a litter-picker, not your hands
- Take water and stay hydrated
- Consider the weather forecast
- Take sufficient bags, to be able to change bags regularly and avoid overfilling
Consider the risks
- If litter-picking alone, ensure someone knows where you are
- Stay alert
- Only litter-pick in daylight hours
- Be aware of hazards: unstable ground, brambles, nettles, thorns, dog mess, broken glass
- Avoid kneeling or putting your hands where you can’t see.
- Do not litter-pick on roads over 30mph or where there is no pavement.
- Wear high-vis so others can see you
- Wash hands thoroughly afterwards and disinfect equipment.
- Do not pull at objects stuck in the ground or attempt to dig them out.
- When lifting heavier items, bend your knees and keep your back straight
- Only attempt what is within your personal capacity
- Do not place sharp items (e.g. broken glass, metal) in bags
- Carry bags away from the body to avoid sharp edges.
What not to litter-pick
- Heavy items (e.g. fridges) can be reported as fly-tipping. Using what3words helps crews to find exact locations.
- Keep Britain Tidy advises against collecting: chemical containers, broken glass, disposable BBQs, vapes, clinical waste (e.g. syringes), dead animals or fly-tipping that may contain asbestos. Report these to the council (see below)
- Folly Lane: The section north of the Muslim cemetery, running up to the A406 / Harbet Road often has industrial fly-tipping.
This is not suitable for community litter-picking.
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Keep Britain Tidy’s Quick Start Guide: Litter-Picking Essentials (pdf)
This may be useful to print out for reference.
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➡️ Plan for disposal of rubbish
- For small amounts, Councils and Keep Britain Tidy recommend placing this in a public bin or taking it home for your own bin.
- Fines can be issued for fly-tipping. Black bags left beside a bin can be mistaken for fly-tipping or attract more waste. Bags containing food may interest foxes, rats or gulls.
- For larger amounts, the recommended approach is to contact the council in advance to arrange collection from an agreed point. Using clear or coloured refuse sacks helps show the waste is from a litter-pick.
Email: recyclingteam@walthamforest.gov.uk - If unable to arrange a collection in advance, you can report the bags as a fly-tip and note in the details that it is the result of a litter-pick. This is the standard way for residents to request removal of waste left in public spaces and helps ensure it is collected promptly. The items should be placed somewhere easy for crews to access (i.e. next to a public bin). Provide clear location instructions (i.e. include a what3words location), and also check that the collection has taken place.
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Please note: Keep Britain Tidy and Friends of Cheney Row Park cannot be held legally responsible for any personal injury or damage suffered or incurred during an independent litter-pick. Nor can these organisations be held responsible for the disposal of collected litter; volunteers must follow local guidance and use the available reporting routes.
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➡️ Equipment and Resources
You will need: a litter picker, refuse bags and safety gloves.
A hoop and a high-vis vest can also be useful.
Recommended supplier: Helping Hand Environmental. The Streetmaster Pro is a good litter-picker and the Litter Picker Pro is also commonly used. Safety gloves, bags, hoops and high-vis vests are available, including bundle options.
https://www.hhenvironmental.co.uk/shop/
Borrowing equipment: Walthamstow Tool Library has litter-pickers available to loan (membership required).
https://frpuk.org/tool-libraries/tools/
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Fly-Tipping
We have a separate page specifically about fly-tipping on Folly Lane.