Page 7 - Winter 2022 Newsletter

Trialling new ways of tackling litter Protecting wildlife along Afon Gwenfro

Caru Cymru is not just about cleaning Since launching Caru Cymru in March
up; it is about stopping litter from 2021, we’ve been working closely Did you know RSPCA Cymru receive Visitors were encouraged to scan the

happening in the first place. By with every local authority on a series more than 200 calls each year about QR code to discover incredible facts and
reminding people of the best option for of local trials, targeting some of the animals being injured or caught in figures about birds, fish, butterflies,

disposing of their waste, and making most common litter issues in Wales. litter? and otters. Wrexham Litter Pickers also

that option as easy as possible, we Everything has been closely monitored carried out regular litter picks to keep
believe we can change behaviour for and evaluated so we can learn and the riverbanks looking clean and green.
the long term. share what works.
Promisingly, it looks like the signs are

Here’s a snapshot of some of our trials so far... helping to make a difference. Although
it’s early days, we’ve had positive
Voting for #TidyButts in Merthyr To raise awareness of the harm caused reports of a reduction in the amount of

litter being dropped.
Smoking litter is the most common In April, we joined forces with Merthyr to wildlife, we placed litter-shaped

type of litter present on our streets, County Borough Council to raise signs along a popular walking route
with cigarette ends by far the most awareness of smoking litter, handing next to Afon Gwenfro, Wrexham.

widespread item found. In Merthyr out hundreds of pocket ashtrays to
town centre, for example, a staggering residents and businesses. We also

77,000 cigarette ends were once installed yellow ballot bins which
collected in just three days. encouraged smokers to ‘bin their butts’

while also giving them the chance

to vote on hot topics like whether
pineapple belongs on pizza.

Early results from the Merthyr trial

are promising. We’ve had positive
feedback on the pocket ashtrays and

the bins have been well used.

Do you have an issue with smoking litter
in your local area? You can download

free posters, signs and social media

graphics from our campaign toolkit.

Visit the toolkit