HOW TO SIGN UP AND WHAT TO TAKE

If you haven’t yet registered, go to greatplasticpickup.org and sign up or register a group. Choose an area close to where you live or work that would benefit from litter picking (and which might yield a good bounty of plastic) and earmark a couple of hours over next weekend. Once registered you can access a comprehensive guide with stepby-step information on how to organise your pick up, packed with advice on running a successful event and keeping everyone safe. You can keep your group private if you like, but why not opt for a public pick up so other like-minded litter pickers can join you? The key is that everyone – young or old – should sign up on the website first.

THIS WEEK

The first 3,000 groups to register will have received a pack of 30 coloured campaign bags, made of 100 per cent recycled plastic, from Keep Britain Tidy. But if you weren’t quick enough, we have distributed more bags to participating local authorities across the UK, so call your local authority switchboard and ask if they have bags you can collect. If they haven’t signed up yet, give KBT a call on 01942 612660. If you can’t get your hands on the colourcoded bags, use recycled plastic rubble sacks or strong bin bags – see ‘Next weekend’, right.

Drum up support by letting groups in your area (schools, clubs, etc) know where and when you will be meeting. You’ll find social media banners and poster templates on the website.

Ask your local authority if they have any litter pickers you can borrow. These are long-handled tools that enable you to pick up items without touching them. Your council might supply gloves too. You can buy a litter picker online for about £2.

Keep an eye on the interactive map on greatplasticpickup.org to look out for other Great Plastic Pick Up groups in your area.

You’ll need to know what your local authority wants you to do with your bags after your pick up, so check the Great Plastic Pick Up website to see if your local authority has posted information there. If your local authority is not listed, call KBT on 01942 612660 for advice.

Follow the #greatplasticpickup hashtag on Twitter to join the Great Plastic Pick Up community, spread the word, and encourage your followers to join you.

NEXT WEEKEND

Grab a pair of gardening gloves and a litter picker and meet your fellow Great Plastic Pickers at the designated point. A wheelbarrow, rake and shovel could be useful too.

Wear strong, comfortable boots or shoes and a waterproof coat.

Hi-vis armbands or clothing are a good idea.

Children are brilliant litter pickers, but aim for a ratio of no more than four children to one adult – and one hour is normally enough for youngsters.

If you didn’t get Great Plastic Pick Up bags, or if you run out, use recycled plastic rubble sacks instead (around £15 for 100 sacks, available online) or strong recycled plastic bin bags. Make sure you clearly separate plastic bottles, aluminium cans plus their ring-pulls and all other rubbish into three different bags.

At the end of your pick up, count and photograph the bags you collect, keeping a tally of full bags of recyclable plastic.

Proudly post your haul on Twitter using #greatplasticpickup and upload pictures to great plastic pickup.org to enter the competition for the chance to win a prize.

You could clean up your local beach