Don’t be a din – put it in the bin!

As a council, we generally avoid name-calling.

But in this case, we think it’s justified. If you’re leaving your rubbish in our city’s open spaces we can only assume that you’re a bit of a din.

Since lockdown started easing, more people have been using open spaces to relax, meet with people outside of their households and exercise.

While many people have been respectful of these shared spaces, some have not.

You’ll all have seen the pictures. It’s hard to keep track, but we estimate that we’ve taken away around 47 tonnes of rubbish from bins and littering in Portsmouth’s parks and open spaces between March and May this year.

Not only is that a 20% increase for the same period last year, that’s the same weight as a Boeing 737-900 aeroplane.

We send out teams to tidy these shared spaces every day, but it’s hard to keep up with the sheer volume of rubbish being left behind. We need your help.

We love this city, and we know you do, too.

We’re asking you to show this great city of Portsmouth a bit of love by:

Putting your rubbish in the bin

If there’s a bin, use it.

Taking your rubbish home with you

If the bin is full, don’t leave your rubbish on the floor. If it doesn’t fit, take it with you.

Recycling what you can

Try and sort through what you can and can’t recycle while you’re out. Make sure you have a spare bag with you to bring things back home.

Recycling these items at home:

• Plastic bottles
• Clean cardboard and paper
• Cans

Recycle these items at bring banks:

• Glass
• Cartons

Find out more at portsmouth.gov.uk/recycling

Showing your support

You can get in on the action too by downloading one of our campaign posters:

• Don’t be a din!
• Definition of a din
• Why are you littering here?

Aside from name-calling, we’re hard at work keeping our streets clean and tidy.

We send out crews every day to tidy up the rubbish that some people leave behind.

An additional 40 bins have been put out along the sea promenade.

We also empty bins in open spaces regularly.

We’re also installing new bins to help us recycle more – watch this space.

All jokes aside, we know that the vast majority of people are kind and considerate, and wouldn’t leave their rubbish behind – and we’d like to thank each and every one of you that is already doing everything we’re asking you to.