From today, 14 February, the council is calling on residents to report littering, fly-tipping and other environmental crimes on Merton’s streets by using the smartphone app, Love Clean Streets, as part of its zero tolerance anti-litter campaign.

Leader of Merton Council Cllr Stephen Alambritis and cabinet member for environmental cleanliness Cllr Judy Saunders (centre) with Mohamed Salim (left) and Matthew Russell (right) from Merton Council’s Clean Team.

A report can be submitted in three easy steps:

1. Get the free Love Clean Streets smartphone app

2. Take a photo of the littering or fly-tipping – the location will be detected automatically

3. Submit your report using the smartphone app

The council is committed to responding to reports through the Love Clean Streets app within two working days. Anyone who submits a report using the app can check up on the progress and find out when the council has dealt with their report on the Love Clean Streets website.

In addition to using Love Clean Streets as a new way of reporting environmental crime, the council is investing in new street cleaning equipment including mechanical sweepers, more smart bins that use solar power to compact rubbish and a borough-wide roll-out of gum and butt bins. The council is also set to clamp down further on people who drop litter and fly-tip as it looks to enlist the support of more enforcement officers.

The council’s litter code, published at the beginning of the year, reminds people of their responsibility not to litter and lists the actions the council takes to clear up litter from the borough’s streets.

Merton Council cabinet member for environmental cleanliness Councillor Judy Saunders said: “We will not tolerate litter on our streets and we want to work with residents to keep Merton clean. We know that clean streets are a top priority for residents and they are a top priority for us too. The new bins, street cleaning equipment and increased enforcement will all help to keep our streets clean. We have had a number of successful prosecutions for people caught fly-tipping and littering, which should serve as a warning to anyone thinking of committing these environmental crimes that we will fine them heavily for the offence and, if necessary, take them to court. We spend over £5million a year clearing our streets of litter, graffiti and fly tipping, money which we would rather spend on services to benefit residents more.”

Find out more: www.merton.gov.uk/littering

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