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Keep Boro Tidy

Our hard-working crews help to keep our town clean and tidy all year round, but you can help too!

Keep Boro Tidy is an ongoing initiative which is all about encouraging and helping Middlesbrough residents, businesses, and community groups to help tidy up their communities, whether it's picking up pesky bits of litter with a small group of friends, sprucing up a grass verge, or giving your local park railings a lick of paint.

Taking pride in our environment - the places we live, work and enjoy with our family and friends - is everyone's responsibility. So if you have an idea of what you'd like to help with in your area, we'd love to hear it and we'll support you however we can.

We're incredibly grateful to all the fantastic volunteers and community groups who already help to tidy our town, and we'll continue to work closely with them as part of the Keep Boro Tidy campaign to join up our combined efforts across our communities.

Together, we can all help to #KeepBoroTidy!

Litter picks at our Community Hubs

Easterside Hub

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Litter picks at Easterside Hub are monthly on the last Tuesday of the month, from 10am to 11am.

Dates:

  • 26/03/2024
  • 30/04/2024
  • 28/05/2024
  • 25/06/2024
  • 30/07/2024
  • 27/08/2024
  • 24/09/2024
  • 29/10/2024
  • 26/11/2024
  • 28/01/2025
  • 25/02/2025

Please note, Easterside Hub is currently open for reduced hours. The hub and its facilities will not be open during the litter picks.

Grove Hill Hub

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Litter picks at Grove Hill Hub are monthly on the last Monday of the month, from 10am to 11am.

Dates:

  • 25/03/2024
  • 29/04/2024
  • 24/06/2024
  • 29/07/2024
  • 30/09/2024
  • 28/10/2024
  • 25/11/2024
  • 27/01/2025
  • 24/02/2025

Please note, there are no litter picks in May and August due to bank holidays.

Newport Hub

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Litter picks at Newport Hub are every 6 weeks on a Thursday, from 1pm to 2pm.

Dates:

  • 21/03/2024
  • 02/05/2024
  • 13/06/2024
  • 25/07/2024
  • 05/09/2024
  • 17/10/2024
  • 28/11/2024

Meeting point: Newport Community Hub car park, St Pauls Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 5NQ.

North Ormesby Hub

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Litter picks at North Ormesby Hub are every 6 weeks on a Friday, from 1pm to 2pm.

Dates:

  • 22/03/2024
  • 03/05/2024
  • 14/06/2024
  • 26/07/2024
  • 06/09/2024
  • 18/10/2024
  • 29/11/2024

Thorntree Hub

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Litter picks at Thorntree Hub are every 6 weeks (on a Tuesday), from 11am to 12pm.

Dates:

  • 09/04/2024
  • 14/05/2024
  • 25/06/2024
  • 06/08/2024
  • 17/09/2024
  • 29/10/2024
  • 10/12/2024

If you'd like to get involved with any of our litter picks, please email cleanup@middlesbrough.gov.uk so we know to expect you, and please wear appropriate footwear and clothing. We'll provide you with the necessary tools and safety-wear so you do not have to bring anything with you. Don’t forget to help us spread the word! 

Frequently asked questions

What is Keep Boro Tidy?

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This is an ongoing project which will carry on over time. We're encouraging our residents to get involved with a range of activities, some of which we'll organise and you can join in with.

This project is for the community, so we'd like you to get in touch with us and tell us what you want to do. We can help support you if you want to do something to make your area a little tidier, like litter-picking by yourself or with one or two others, or in a larger group.

We'll work with you to support whatever ideas you may have, and we've got all the litter pickers and bags you could possibly need for whatever you’d like to do.

What type of things can people get involved with?

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There are lots of things you can get involved with, including

  • litter-picking
  • weeding
  • verge tidying
  • alley cleaning
  • painting 'public furniture' like park railings, play equipment, or benches

Or, you can let us know any other ideas you may have to help spruce up your local community! We will support whatever you choose to do by providing you with equipment and advice, and overseeing your activities.

Will the council still be carrying out their usual work?

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Our crews will of course still be carrying out all of their normal duties. This community work will sit alongside the work of our dedicated teams, who work 24/7, carrying out duties like street cleaning and verge cleansing in all weathers, in all seasons.

So why do we want residents to get involved?

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Because we're all responsible for our planet and our own environment, and we can all help to make a positive difference. Our crews do a fantastic job but we need the help of the community too. Being involved with hands-on community work can give you a huge sense of pride and wellbeing, it can also help build friendships, and promote positive mental and physical wellbeing.

Health and safety

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  • You carry out litter-picking activities at your own risk.
  • Middlesbrough Council will not be held liable for any incidents relating to this activity.
  • You should follow all health and safety guidance given.

Why should I help?

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We know our residents take pride in their area, and we want to offer everyone the chance to help Keep Boro Tidy. You could also be making a real difference to a neighbour who may be elderly or have mobility issues. By simply helping to clear up a few bits of litter on a grass verge near their home or remove some weeding that they can't manage, you could be making a huge difference to their life. Your help could even prevent an animal from swallowing something dangerous, and help to protect their home and habitat.

How can I get involved?

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Please email us with your requests or ideas at cleanup@middlesbrough.gov.uk.

You could get a few friends together or simply head out by yourself on your lunch break, and we’ll provide you with litter pickers and the appropriate tools at any time of the year. You could do it once a month, or make it a regular get-together with friends or colleagues. Or maybe let us know if there’s a patch of grass that you’d like to tidy, or if there are weeds or overgrown foliage in a public space, and we’ll help you sort it. And if there's another activity that you’re interested in, let us know by sending us an email.

Small Grants Scheme

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The Small Grants Scheme is available to resident groups in Middlesbrough for projects or activities which will benefit their community. If you're part of a local group, you can apply for a small grant which could be used to buy your own litter-picking equipment. Grants of up to £1,500 are available! You can find out more on the Small Grants Fund page.

We'll be posting regular reminders on our social media pages, so make sure you're following Middlesbrough Council on Facebook and Twitter.