A campaign against litter and street urination in Richmond has begun.

It costs Richmond Council £2.85 million in taxpayer funds every year to clean up all the waste that is left lying around.

As part of efforts to reduce this bill, the Fight Dirty campaign has been launched, encouraging people to join in the drive to keep our borough clean.

Cllr Julia Neden-Watts is chair of the council's Environment and Sustainability Committee.

She said: "Over the past few months we have seen a huge rise in the amount of litter left in our borough and reports of street urination and dog fouling.

"We will of course go on picking up all the rubbish that's deposited on our streets and clean up the mess because we take pride in our borough's appearance. But the cost of this task is enormous – so we all need to come together to Fight Dirty.

"Council tax payers are having to fund a clean-up operation that costs millions of pounds a year.

"Families that are already struggling to pay their bills do not need this unnecessary burden.

"If people make sensible choices about their waste and behaviours then we won't have to spend such vast sums clearing it up."

Extra bins have been installed in litter blackspots around the borough and collections have been increased.

Other action taken includes collaborations with:

• police to increase their local capacity and operations to target criminality
• businesses to open their toilets to combat unacceptable problems with defecation and urination
• supermarkets to restrict alcohol sales
• as well as stepping up the borough's Park Guard operations (particularly over the weekends)

The council said: "Officers are looking into additional long-term accessible toilet provision in the borough's busiest areas.

"We also enforce against litter and those who soil our streets, parks and open spaces. If caught – you could be fined!

"As part of the Fighting Dirty campaign, signage is being installed in key hot spots around the borough, and a new digital campaign launched.

"You can join the fight by following our top tips online, downloading our campaign materials and displaying them at home, in your business, or on your social media accounts."

Related coverage:

Council speaks out after boom in waste left in Richmond parks

A public toilet in Richmond has been reopened

Video: Deer with inner tube in antlers highlights litter problem in Richmond Park

New attempt to tackle scourge of litter after 644% rise in Richmond Park

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