How to Take Part in  the Great British Spring Clean

Welcome to our guide on how to take part in the Great British Spring Clean, an annual event dedicated to tidying up the environment and promoting community involvement. As the UK welcomes the arrival of spring, it’s the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and get involved in this nationwide effort to make our towns and cities cleaner and more beautiful.

 In this blog, we’ll provide you with tips, ideas, and practical steps on how students, can actively participate in the Great British Spring Clean whether it be within your community or small changes to your lifestyle to make it more environmentally friendly.  Let’s join hands in making a positive impact on our surroundings and creating a cleaner, greener future.

What is the Great British Spring Clean?

Great British Spring Clean, organised by Keep Britain Tidy is the country’s largest mass-action environmental campaign. This year, it runs between March 15th to 31st of March. In 2023 alone, all of the #LitterHeroes (The volunteers) pledged to pick more than 40,000 bags throughout the course of the campaign and this year is expected to be even bigger.

Volunteer to be a #LitterHero

If you are interested in contributing towards cleaning up your local community, then you can register to be a #LitterHero. Once you have registered, you will get more details regarding the clean-up in the location that you have chosen, and all that you have to do is show up and start picking up the litter! 

Visit the Keep Britain Tidy website to find out how you can register. 

They also have other campaigns that are catered towards cleaning up but in different ways, throughout the year. Some of them include Love Parks Week, Plastic Challenge and more. 

Taking part in these will allow you to challenge yourself in different ways all while helping the environment. 

You can subscribe to their newsletter to find out new opportunities, so you can volunteer and help your community one step at a time. 

How can you take part?

Apart from volunteering with local communities, if you want to take part in the Great British Spring Clean by making small changes within your student accommodation to positively contribute to the environment, here are a few ways you can achieve that.

Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

Whenever you are looking to declutter and clean your space, try to opt for eco-friendly cleaning products as opposed to those with harsh chemicals. 

This will not only be beneficial to your health but will also help the environment significantly. 

Read this blog on The Best Natural & Eco Cleaning Brands to find out great alternatives.

If you don’t want to spend a bunch on new cleaning products, don’t worry as many homemade alternatives will leave your house squeaky clean without any added costs. 

Read this blog on Homemade cleaning products: 5 fantastic recipes, to find out how you can create your own.

 

Reduce Single-Use Items

Single-use plastics are a large contributor to waste as well as greenhouse gases that significantly harm the environment.

A great way through which you can help is by reducing the use of not only single-use plastics but other single-use products.

This could be replacing your kitchen towel with a good micro fibre cloth, investing in a good water bottle, and more. While finding great reusable products is definitely an expense, it can help you save a lot of money in the long run. 

Declutter your Space Regularly and Donate 

Most people don’t declutter their space very often, which is why it always seems like a tedious task. Taking 5-10 minutes every week to clean your space can not only help keep your place clean but also prevent unnecessary hoarding. 

Whenever you find clothes that you haven’t worn in a while or things that haven’t been used lately, you can donate them to a local charity shop instead of throwing them away. 

This is a great way to keep your space clean while reducing waste.

 

Recycle Properly 

Whether you are living in a student accommodation or a university residence, there are always clear rules for waste disposal and recycling. 

Even if it seems like a boring task, make sure to read the rules of waste disposal in your area so that you can effectively dispose of your garbage. 

Make sure to recycle any electronic waste at the designated collection centres so you can prevent it from entering landfills.  

Upcycle and Repurpose

In the process of reducing single-use products, you can also find creative ways to upcycle the products you already own.

Whether it is bags or boxes, there are several ways through which you can reuse the things you already own and repurpose them. This can help you save money all while positively contributing to the environment by reducing waste.

Conserve Energy

Regardless of how often this is mentioned, it can never be stressed enough. Even if your student accommodation has bills included, always make sure to switch off unnecessary appliances at all times. 

If possible you can also opt to switch to LED and other energy-efficient lights to reduce your electricity consumption. Small measures like these can go a long way in conserving energy. 

Reduce Packaging

Every time you go shopping, make sure to carry a reusable bag with you so you don’t have to get yet another single-use plastic bag. 

Even if it seems like a small amount at the moment, carrying reusable bags can help you reduce a large amount of plastic waste in the environment! And we are sure every £.30 p that you don’t spend on bags will surely add up!

As we wrap up this guide on taking part in the Great British Spring Clean, remember that your efforts, no matter how small, contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment for all. 

By picking up litter, reducing plastic waste, and doing responsible waste disposal, you play a crucial role in preserving the beauty of the UK’s landscapes and protecting wildlife.

 Let your actions inspire others to join this nationwide initiative and make a lasting impact on our communities!

Follow us on Instagram @universalstudentliving and let us know how you are taking part in the Gret British Spring Clean. 

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