Sometimes a walk through the streets can leave you feeling deflated. It’s easy to come across discarded litter; wrappers, tissues, plastic bags, and fag-ends. Not quite sure why people carelessly toss litter on our streets. It is a mystery to most of us; litter bins are everywhere, and it’s as if the actions of a tiny minority are spoiling the streets for all of us. However, there is a group of dedicated local residents who are taking action, and clearing away the crud.
Roding Rubbish began in 2019 and is a voluntary group of people who litter pick and clear rubbish that has been dumped in awkward places, such as ditches, bushes etc. They hold regular events all over the borough, organised by one of their coordinators, local resident Marion Hull, where the community can meet-up with others, get some equipment, and clear up the place.
Over the years, they have collected over 8,555 bags of rubbish. 2024 has been a bumper year so far with 2,465 bags and 20kgs of vapes collected. Rescuing washing machines, fridges, and 45 shopping trollies from ditches and rivers. There have been a total of 1,026 volunteers since Roding Rubbish began, and there are still quite a lot of regular members of the group.
Some recent litter picks include clearing the storm ditch that runs the length of Thames View from Box Lane to the Mayesbrook; visiting and cleaning up the Ripple Nature Reserve; and during the ‘Leap for Litter Campaign’ two of their volunteers who live on Barking Riverside cleaned up around the station and near Footpath 47.
On Saturday 20 April 2024, as part of World Earth Day, Roding Rubbish cleaned-up the watercourse and grass verges by Wivenhoe Road, a collaboration event with Are You Mad, The North Face, and Nandos. Some 550 bags of rubbish were collected, over 50kgs of plastic waste, and that doesn’t even include various large plastic garden toys, an old mattress, a trampoline…and a pizza delivery scooter!
Following the event, Are You Mad plans to host a plastic workshop where the waste collected will be recycled and made into a North Face whistle and carabiner at The North Face store in Regent Street. It is an innovative solution to the issue of waste and Roding Rubbish are proud of this partnership.
Their efforts have recently been recognised by Barking and Dagenham council, at its ninth Women’s Empowerment Awards, in which they were presented with the ‘Community Impact Award’. As a local community it is incredibly encouraging to witness the impact of their work and the individuals lives that have been changed for the better.
We all have a hand to play to keep our neighbourhood free from litter. Connect with Roding Rubbish (@rodingrubbish) on Instagram and Facebook to find out more about their upcoming events.
By Kevin Hudson
Local resident and REB member
