Make a difference this Great British Spring Clean!
City of York Council is inviting residents, schools, businesses and community groups to get involved in the Great British Spring Clean 2026.
This year, the tenth annual Great British Spring Clean will take place from 13- 29 March 2026.
As well as encouraging groups and individuals to organise their own litter picks, this year we are also supporting pre-organised community litter picks and ‘tidy ups’ in areas across the city.
This support will include:
- providing equipment, to help make jobs quicker and easier
- collecting bagged litter
- promoting community events
- offering practical advice
- sharing health and safety guidance.
Anyone who enjoys this kind of voluntary work and would like to continue doing it, can register to join over 1,800 residents who volunteer throughout the year across the city in a variety of volunteer roles.
This valued volunteering contributes to a cleaner city alongside the work of our Neighbourhood Caretakers and our neighbourhood Neighbourhood Improvement Programme (NIP) which will improve public spaces and help reduce anti-social behaviour.
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said: “After a soaking start to the year, Spring is on its way! Could you join the thousands of #litterheroes across the country for the Great British Spring Clean? Let’s turn the tide on litter, which blights our streets and harms our wildlife. Come along to one of the organised sessions or set up one of your own, and help make our streets shine this summer.”
To find out more and get involved, including:
- finding Great British Spring Clean events in York
- registering to join in one
- setting up a new event
- registering to volunteer regularly,
please visit: www.york.gov.uk/GBSpringClean.
For more information on activities to support the city’s environment throughout the year, please visit: www.york.gov.uk/EnvironmentAndCommunity
Image caption (above): Pictured left to right are: Iain Dunn, Environment and Community Officer at City of York Council; Chris Bartram, volunteer with the Leeman Litterpickerists; and Cllr Jenny Kent.