30/12/10
Merthyr man fronts New Year campaign urging people to tidy up their act
Tony Rees, 72, from Penydarren, has joined forces with Keep Wales Tidy to front their “I Will for Wales” campaign, which will encourage people across Wales to sign an online pledge to look after their local environment as their New Year’s resolution.
Pledgers can pick one of ten New Year’s Resolutions relating to litter, such as shopping with reusable bags, carrying a pooper scooper when walking the dog or putting bin bags out on the correct day.
Tony, who has been volunteering for Keep Wales Tidy for 10 years, was handpicked from an army of volunteers to appear on a poster to launch the “I Will for Wales” campaign this week. The poster will appear in hundreds of locations in towns and cities across Wales.
Tony, a volunteer with the Merthyr Tydfil Rivers Group, said:
“I have been volunteering with Keep Wales Tidy for many years and hate to see litter and waste spoiling our beautiful towns, rivers and countryside.
“Merthyr is a town worth caring about – we should all do our bit to keep it clean and tidy.
“By signing up to one of Keep Wales Tidy’s New Year’s resolutions, you could help to clean up our streets and make Merthyr a town to be proud of.”
More than £70 million a year is spent on cleaning Welsh streets. A typical local authority spends £93,000 a year on gum removal and gum litter education alone.
Lesley Jones, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said:
“Our ‘I Will for Wales’ campaign aims to help encourage people look after their local area by keeping it clean and tidy. At a time when people are thinking about their New Year’s resolutions, we want people to make small changes to their lifestyles that will make a huge difference to the way their local areas look and feel.
“By signing up to one of Keep Wales Tidy’s New Year’s resolutions, people will be following Tony’s example and helping make Wales a country to be proud of.”
To make a difference to your local community, sign a pledge online at www.keepwalestidy.org.
