Stroud District Council’s Litter Champion collected an average of 100 items of rubbish per mile as she ran the Stroud Half Marathon on Sunday.
SDC Litter and Clean Environment Champion, Councillor Gill Thomas usually completes a half marathon in well under two hours but because she was bagging so much litter on the 13.1 mile course, it took her more than twice as long.
“The Stroud Half went amazingly well but it was extremely hard work,” she said. “It was much harder than running a normal half marathon!”
She used 22 bags to dispose of the items including a wig, a dirty nappy and underwear. Even though Stroud District Council provides more than 1,400 bins for public use across the district, a minority of people drop litter and flytip. The Council spends £770,000 every year on clearing fly tipping, street sweeping, emptying bins and litter picking.
Littering is classed as anti-social behaviour and can result in a fine for those who commit it. Despite that, Councillor Thomas found enough litter to fill 22 bags on the course which starts and finishes in Cainscross Road, Stroud, and takes in Ebley, Stonehouse, Standish, Whitminster and Great Oldbury.
The Litter and Clean Environment Champion role complements the Council’s work in tackling litter and protecting the environment.
“Dropping litter is anti-social and bad for the environment – there is no excuse,” said Councillor Thomas. “The council has more than 1,400 litter bins and empties them regularly. Anyone who finds a bin is full can report it on the council’s website.
“I’d like to thank everyone who cheered me on around the course, and our council officers who work hard to keep our district clean.”
