Please be careful anytime you are out litter-picking (alone or in groups) and remember you are doing so at your own risk.
If you have any queries or issues, please contact harrowlitterpickers@outlook.com
Organiser to complete the Collection Log to record output (bags, participants etc.) of the event.
Volunteers should maintain contact with the group and inform the organiser when leaving.
All volunteers should clean and disinfect their litter picking kit after the event.
DO NOT disturb wildlife - if you come across an active nest/signs of active habitation of any animal, stop, and go elsewhere. Avoid trampling of sensitive habitats as much as possible and do not 'tidy up' natural materials like stones and logs etc as they may be key habitat features for invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians and other wildlife.
No participant will be expected (nor should they feel obliged) to handle any hazardous item.
When working in areas where these items are likely to be encountered, safety boots or shoes with toe and mid sole guards provide best protection from sharp hazards which may not be visible.
Broken glass should be wrapped, if possible, to avoid contact injury from being loose in a bag.
Collect only bagged dog faeces, removal of plastic from the environment being the primary purpose.
Ideally, syringes should not be handled unless properly trained and only with the correct PPE. If you choose to clear any, please dispose of them safely (e.g. placing them in a lidded Tupperware container and take it to a pharmacy for appropriate disposal). DO NOT put any needles loose in your rubbish bags as this puts the person collecting it at risk of a sharps injury.
All bottles of liquid should be visually assessed. Bottles of suspected urine, spat out Paan tobacco- bright red/orange (or any other unknown) liquid should be bagged up unopened. Other harmless liquids can be CAREFULLY opened and emptied where the contents cannot cause harm to people or animals, and the empty bottles bagged up.
If a weapon (eg, gun, knife) is found, inform the organiser, call 101, and await instruction. With knives, it is likely the Police will take details but ask you to dispose of it. There are a few community knife bins around - if you are taking it to one of them, keep a note of the CAD number (the reference number they will give you when making the initial report) with you in case you get stopped on route carrying the weapon.
Discarded PPE should be double-bagged, if possible.
NITROUS OXIDE CANISTERS - Please do not put these in your bags for collection, place then on top, or beside, any bags. If the area where they were found looks to be an area of antisocial behaviour, please report the location to asb@harrow.gov.uk
Volunteers should watch for obscured hazards such as tree roots, brambles, holes and uneven ground.
Care should be taken when walking on slopes and slippery surfaces.
Volunteers should wear suitable outdoor footwear - ideally sturdy boots or shoes. Safety boots or shoes with toe and mid sole guards provide the best protection.
Volunteers should not lift more than they can manage. Request help for lifting heavy items if needed.
Volunteers should ensure that they bend their knees and keep their back straight when lifting loads.
Larger items should be lifted from both sides.
Check that no one is in the pathway, or area, of an item being thrown before throwing it.
Be careful not to overfill bags, especially if others may be taking them away. Also, be careful when picking up bags filled by others; if you are not happy with the weight, do not attempt to carry them.
On pavements, please be mindful of passers-by, and take care not to impede buggies and wheelchair users.
On shared cycle/pedestrian paths and towpaths, keep a lookout for users (cyclists, runners etc) behind you; some may pass dangerously close at high speed with no advance warning.
If you are working on towpaths, keep to the non-water side for your own safety.
Volunteers may not participate in group events if they, or anyone in their household, have Coronavirus or Coronavirus symptoms.
Volunteers must follow current government Coronavirus guidelines.
Shared contact points (such as tools, door handles etc) should be cleansed before and after use.
Volunteers should wear gloves and, ideally, long sleeves and thick trousers especially when working with thorny, prickly, stinging plants – e.g. thistles, brambles, stinging nettles, roses, thorny trees and shrubs. Keep these plants away from your eyes.
In dense vegetation, please wear goggles to protect your eyes.
If you are using secateurs/loppers to clear a path, please make sure your cutting of, or holding back of an obstruction or branch, does not then cause a trip hazard, or whip back into another volunteer.
Any participant allergic to bee stings should inform the organiser before the event and, where applicable, give details of any emergency aid such as where to find your Epi-Pen.
Watch out for giant hogweed : a very tall (up to 3.5m), cow parsley-like plant with thick bristly stems that are often purple-blotched. Flowers are white and held in umbels/flat-topped clusters. Flower heads can be as large as 60cm (2ft) across. It can reach a height of 3.5m (11.5ft) or more and has a spread of about 1-2m (3.5-7ft). Chemicals in the sap are phototoxic and can cause blisters to skin. If you see it, report it to the event leader and do not touch it. Not to be confused with Native Hogweed, very similar, but much smaller growing (up to 6ft/ 1.8m) when in flower.
Please leave collected bags in a safe area for collection, take a photograph (preferably showing the location) and report by email to environment.operations@harrow.gov.uk. Include details of the location, such as street corner or lamp-post number, and advise of any hazardous material. Please ensure you sign off as a member of Harrow Litter Pickers.
Finally, please wash your hands and ensure any scratches or injuries are attended to!
(HLP reviewed February 2024)