Something changed in January 2025. I was cycling past so much rubbish. I got myself a litterpicker (the right brand fortunately). Using it with a bike means I have to keep stopping. So now I take hours to cycle anywhere.
In the beginning
Over that first year, I built up a number of hotspots to clear in Cambridge. I enjoy passing them, and don’t even mind if some rubbish comes back. I don’t expect anywhere to remain clear. Some say, that you should never return to a litterpick, for that reason.
As I thought about it more, I decided to focus on areas where the council wouldn’t go for health and safety reasons – in ditches and in water. I know this from reporting flytips. I wonder what the council workers think of me with my 200 or so flytip reports a year. Have they made me notorious?
People on Nextdoor point out areas which need doing. After spending the day litterpicking Cherry Hinton on my own, I thought, “I’m not doing this unless the people requesting the litterpick join me.” But after a while, I realised that they might not be physically able to do it, so I changed my policy.
The worst things about litterpicking
What I particularly hate are laybys and the bottles of urine there. Online people justify this. I think that is a big problem in our society. Justifying the unjustifiable. “Take the bottles home,” is what I say.
Recently, I gave up doing two wards in Cambridge (to remain unnamed). Despite going back again and again, there was still the same level of litter. Of course, you could argue that it would be double if I hadn’t.
Sometimes, people give me really strange looks and make unpleasant comments, which I hate. Who wouldn’t, eh? I even bought a bodycam to record people throwing rubbish at me. It really isn’t what you imagine happens in Cambridge.
I have to remind myself of all the nice chats I have, and not give up because of a few unruly teenage boys. Yes, it is always groups of teenage boys. We need to identify why they do this.
… and the best things
On my first Christmas day’s picking, I found quite a few bike parts, Alas, I never had a use for them. I have not had a day off since I started, including on Christmas day. I even litterpicked while on holiday in Spain. But those were light days, as litterpicking days go, which made a sort of break.
Recycling
I like to take the vapes for recycling. There really shouldn’t be any as the disposable ones were banned last June. Many shops still sell them. I don’t report them as I think they will then dump them.
I like to recycle the batteries, too. In fact, the majority I find still have some charge. Hairbands are problematic for wildlife so I take them to a charity shop. Yes, I was surprised, too. If you don’t ask, then you don’t know.
I have to cycle out to Milton to recycle the heavy laughing gas canisters. Recently, a scrapyard offered me 15p for each one – provided that I take the brass top off, which isn’t easy. We need a deposit scheme so badly. There will be one for cans and bottles in 2027. I estimate that I will be able to earn around £1000 a year then.
Working with neighbours
Some groups invite me to make ‘guest appearances’, or so I like to think, although generally, I find litterpicking groups a bit tricky. Some meet only once a year, which surprises me. My main issue is that they seem not to recycle. I hate the waste of aluminium, iron and glass. There are environmental impacts.
The number of people litterpicking is growing. People say they will come litterpicking with me, but not a single person has kept going. Indeed, only four people have ever joined me. But I have made one lifelong friend, which is great.
I like to think of myself as an amateur garbologist, and I don’t like to discriminate against the wealthy streets! Therefore, I decided to litterpick the four most expensive streets in Cambridge. I only got a handful of rubbish from one of the four streets but there is another one – a cut through – where there is always a lot of rubbish.
Generally, I don’t think people can be bothered to pick up litter but it can be very satisfying. I’d be happy to talk to anyone who is interested in trying it. If we all did some, our streets would be clear of rubbish.
Where to now?
I do most of my litterpicking by bike and en route to volunteering. I am currently looking for a job but I don’t receive any benefits or funding (although I am looking into getting some funding).
My favourite litterpicking group is with the charity, ‘Abbey People’. I do other things for them, too. I can take the credit for setting up the litterpick around Cambridge United, as I emailed the club. We finish our two hours with coffee in the club. These gestures make a difference. I received two free tickets to a match after dropping a hint to the head of the charity foundation.
I think I must be an optimist. I imagined some players litterpicking with us, like in a ‘Football Focus’ on TV. I don’t know why, but this cracked up a friend of mine! Well, I’d be happy even litterpicking with some fringe or youth players!
Feel free to have a look at what I do at eco_nick1 on Instagram.
I have decided to stand in the local elections for West Chesterton in May. I am litterpicking all the roads in the ward. I am having some good conversations with people. Many do know about ‘Eco Nick’, mainly through Instagram. It may be a bit of a gimmick but why not litterpick rather than traditional canvassing? Indeed, I am super vigilant about litter in West Chesterton.
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