Rubbish protest grabs attention

Bill Edmonds has had enough of discarded McDonald’s wrappers in his neighbourhood.

Each week, Edmonds picks up litter from the roadside between the popular tourist spot of Whanga¯ rei Falls and the main thoroughfare, Kamo Rd.

About 80 per cent of the trash was McDonald’s wrappers or drinks containers, thrown out of car windows by customers, he said.

To draw attention to the issue, Edmonds emptied two large bags – which he picked up over a couple of months – outside McDonald’s in Bank St, Whangarei, on Thursday.

Edmonds said he took the action to highlight how big the littering problem was in the hope of shaming those responsible.

He also wanted to urge McDonald’s to sponsor signs which encouraged people to take pride in their community, as well as put bigger labels on its packaging to discourage littering.

The action got the attention of franchisee

Peter Foster, who said he was ‘‘embarrassed’’ about the amount of McDonald’s rubbish dropped by customers.

‘‘Any positive message that we can get out there to encourage people’s responsibility [is good],’’ he said.

Foster said he appreciated volunteers, like Edmonds, who picked up litter and said staff also cleaned the streets around the Whanga¯ rei restaurants.

He said he was interested in meeting Edmonds again, to talk about where signs could go.

Head of communications Simon Kenny was also ashamed of the litter. ‘‘We’re as frustrated as Bill at the amount of McDonald’s packaging people have littered.

‘‘It’s an issue we see around the country and a behaviour that is very hard to change,’’ he said.

All McDonald’s restaurants did daily litter pick-ups and many franchisees worked with local groups on initiatives, Kenny said.

‘‘We’ve also met with Government ministers and are working with packaging and waste management suppliers on potential options at a national level.’’

Kenny said McDonald’s had committed to changing the packaging given to customers.

It would make packaging 100 per cent renewable, recycled, or certified sources by 2025.

All stores would also have recycling options by that time.

Edmonds said he was pleased with the response but felt he had to make a bold statement to get action.

He helped staff pick up all of the rubbish from the display.

‘‘We’re as frustrated as Bill at the amount of McDonald’s packaging people have littered. It is an issue we see around the country and a behaviour that is very hard to change,’’ Simon Kenny says.