Community mucks in for Islington town centre clean-ups

Schoolchildren, residents and local businesses all pitched in to help Islington Council’s street environment teams on a cleaning blitz at Nag’s Head town centre this week – part of a month-long spring clean across the borough.

Pupils from Grafton Primary School donned hi-vis vests, protective gloves, litter pickers and enthusiastic smiles to tackle unsightly spots in the town centre, alongside members of the Nag’s Head Town Centre Management Group.

They joined the pavement jet-washers, chewing gum removers, street sweepers and litter pickers of the council’s street environment services teams on Monday to deep clean the Holloway high streets.

Bins will also be washed, graffiti and fly-tips removed, and businesses visited to ensure they are doing their bit to keep Nag’s Head clean and tidy.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, executive member for environment and transport, said: “Islington’s town centres are the bustling, beating heart of our community and we all benefit from keeping them looking welcoming and smart.

“I was so encouraged to see how eager the children from Grafton Primary School were to show they also care about their local high street – and have a stake in keeping it clean.

“We are absolutely committed to high standards and our teams already work around the clock, throughout the year, to keep town centres clean – as well as these deep clean events and supporting traders and businesses to do their bit.”

All this week residents and businesses are encouraged to get involved with clean-up events near them, helping the council to make a real difference.

The council is also ensuring businesses properly dispose of their waste, and undertaking ‘Recycling Sorted’ education events with residents to help them understand what can and cannot be recycled. The first of these took place at St Luke’s Estate in Bunhill ward, where the council’s recycling team went through the contents of recycling bins. Contaminated bin loads of recycling have to be treated as rubbish, with each one costing the council £100 more to dispose of.

For more information on recycling, see www.islington.gov.uk/recycling.