Group litter-picks
Friends of Cheney Row Park runs several large litter-picks a year. These are attended by 10-20 local volunteers and are generally hosted in the winter months, once the greenery dies back and it’s easiest to access litter from the undergrowth. We cover the park area and the surrounding wildlife corridors/footpaths. Sign up to our (sporadic) newsletter to hear when the next litter-pick will be.
Fly-Tipping
We have a separate page specifically about fly-tipping on Folly Lane.
Key Information
Take care of yourself
- Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and safety gloves. Use a litter-picker, not your hands. Wash hands thoroughly afterwards and disinfect equipment.
- 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.
- If litter-picking alone, ensure someone knows where you are. Stay alert.
- Only attempt what is within your personal capacity
- Change bags regularly and avoid overfilling.
- Carry bags away from the body to avoid sharp edges. Do not place sharp items (e.g. broken glass, metal) in bags.
- 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.
- Heavy items (e.g. fridges) can be reported as fly-tipping. Using what3words helps with exact locations.
- Take water and stay hydrated. Consider the weather.
- 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.
- 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.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Quick Start Guide: Litter-Picking Essentials (pdf)
Please note: Keep Britain Tidy cannot be held legally responsible for any personal injury or damage suffered or incurred during a litter-pick, and Friends of Cheney Row Park can not be held responsible for litter-picks that are not part of our official events.
Plan for disposal of rubbish
Please note: Friends of Cheney Row Park cannot be held responsible for the disposal of collected waste; volunteers must follow local guidance and use the available reporting routes.
- Councils and Keep Britain Tidy recommend placing small amounts in a public bin or taking them 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 attract 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 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 (not on a footpath; ideally next to a bin). Provide clear location instructions (e.g. what3words) and check that the collection has taken place.
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/