Durham litter pickers removed more than 50 bags of rubbish from the River Wear at their latest community cleanup, highlighting ongoing efforts to protect local waterways.
The Durham City Riverscape Community, which began just before the coronavirus pandemic, meets monthly to collect litter along the River Wear. Organizers estimate the group has removed several tonnes of waste since launching, reflecting the scale of debris that builds up along the riverbanks.
Lead volunteer Graham Hollingwood said the team is approaching a milestone of 1,000 bags collected, adding that the figure shows how much work is involved in caring for the river and the “phenomenal” dedication of volunteers.
Hollingwood noted that extracting a full-sized fridge freezer from the water earlier this year was the group’s toughest task so far, but volunteers were up to the challenge.
Durham litter pickers near 1,000-bag milestone
The group plans to continue its regular cleanups as it edges closer to the 1,000-bag mark, encouraging residents to get involved to keep the River Wear cleaner and safer for people and wildlife.
