Cleaning up the nation

The British Cleaning Council (BCC), which represents nineteen separate bodies involved in the UK cleaning industry, has announced the launch of the Clean Britain Awards.

The scheme has two key objectives - to recognise the increasing efforts being applied by many different authorities, organisations and voluntary bodies in maintaining high standards of public space cleanliness and to encourage a sense of civic pride in communities and areas throughout the UK, "Helping Put Civic Pride Back Into Britain".

The Clean Britain Awards inspection criteria will cover litter, including cigarette butts, fly tipping and chewing gum, unauthorised graffiti, dog fouling, public place waste bin management, overgrown and obstructing pavement hedgerows and signage cleanliness '“ all issues which impact on visitor impressions wherever the location.

Entry categories will expand as the scheme grows but will initially cover all UK local authorities, along with a range of other public and commercial bodies and smaller, voluntary groups.

The Clean Britain Awards scheme is being supported by a number of associated organisations, including: ENCAMS (behind the Keep Britain Tidy campaign), The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, The Highways Agency, The Campaign to Protect Rural England, Keep Wales Tidy, Keep Scotland Beautiful, The Association of Town Centre Management and Network Rail.

Sponsors are being sought to help cover the marketing and running of the scheme. Details can be found on the Awards website: www.cleanbritainawards.co.uk.

Any body or organisation interested in participating in the Clean Britain Awards should register their interest via the Awards website: www.cleanbritainawards.co.uk, which also contains further information about the Awards entry and inspection criteria as well as sponsorship opportunities.