Keep Abergavenny Tidy (KAT) has introduced monthly litter picks for volunteers to tackle rubbish hot spots and help to keep the town looking its very best throughout 2020 – and beyond.
Two group litter picks will be held in January: The first on Saturday, January 4th between 10.30am and 12.30pm. Meet at the Youth and Community Centre, Old Hereford Road. Anti-litter kits can be provided. If you can’t make that one there will be another litter pick on Tuesday, January 28th and then on every fourth Tuesday of the month. Check the KAT Facebook page for the site to be selected.
Since the relaunch in March 2019, KAT has signed up 57 volunteers as supporters. Forty-six collect litter on a regular basis in Abergavenny, Mardy, Skirrid Fawr and Skirrid Fach and Llanfoist, Govilon, Gilwern and Goytre. Additionally, groups such as Merched Y Wawr, Women’s Walkers and Llantilio Pertholey arrange their own initiatives.
To date, KAT has organized five group litter picks – three at the Mill Street end of town and two at the Community Centre in Old Hereford Road, averaging 15 bags at each event. In the November one, cans were separated from plastic and six purple bags and 12 bags of general waste were collected. Fly tipping in two places was reported to Monmouthshire County Council and the items were removed promptly.
Since March, 267 bags of litter have been recorded as being collected by groups and individuals. “Although there could well be more since we think there is an under-recording,” said Helen Trevor Davies, KAT coordinator.
KAT is now planning to develop preventive strategies, and has acquired 29 high vis jackets in adult and child sizes with a bi-lingual logo with Keep Abergavenny Tidy/ Cadwch Y Fenny’yn Daclus to be lent out at group litter picks.
Irena Morgan
