Residents are invited to help clean up litter from Petersfield town centre in readiness for the Remembrance Sunday Parade.
The clean-up is aiming to leave the town spick and span for the parade on November 10, which commemorates those from Petersfield who died in both world wars and other conflicts.
Petersfield Society trustee and event organiser Beth Svarovska said: “To help prepare for Remembrance Sunday is an opportunity for everyone to enjoy a practical environmental project together, and this is also a social occasion.”
The aim is to give the town a ‘deep clean’ and ‘final polish’ ahead of the day, which attracts thousands of people.
The waste will then be separated, analysed and the findings sent to local and national governments, businesses and the public, to encourage policy and behavioural change.
The clean up starts on November 2 at Petersfield Methodist Church in Station Road from 2pm to 4.30pm. Beth added: “This will be a social and organisational gathering to include team litter-picking.
“Volunteers will collect kit, agree areas, receive a safety briefing, and there will be refreshments, special guests and the opportunity to litter-pick near to the venue.”
During the run up to Remembrance Sunday volunteers are asked to litter-pick their areas whenever suits them, delivering the litter to a designated centre in Petersfield. The big ‘sort-out’ will be on the Saturday before Remembrance Sunday.
Beth added: “We need volunteers to sort the litter for recycling and to analyse numbers of different types of packaging, including disposable cups, plastic bottles sheathed in plastic, and possibly do a brand analysis too.
“The government is consulting on packaging policy, and our data may help change policy to reduce waste.”
Then at 7.30am on November 10, there will be a final ‘sweep’ to pick up new, or previously missed, litter.
To volunteer e-mail: [email protected]