Local people are invited to join the Litter Free Dorset Challenge – but they need to hurry to sign up.

Litter Free Dorset has teamed up with the Preventing Plastic Pollution project to provide 250 budding Dorset litter heroes with litter picking equipment. In return for taking part in a litter picking challenge this May, participants will be able to keep hold of the equipment for future litter picks.

Once all 250 spaces available for this year’s challenge have been taken, sign-up will close. Participants will be able to choose a challenge and in return receive a litter picker, high vis vest and weighing scales.

You will be able to choose from four different challenges to take part in so that your litter pick is at a time that suits you. The challenges to choose from are:

• The 10-hour challenge – litter pick for 10 hours in one whole day
• The 10-times challenge – take part in 10 litter picks throughout the month
• The 10-minute daily challenge – everyday litter pick for 10 minutes throughout the month
• The ‘create your own’ challenge – is there a particular challenge you have in mind?

You could also consider doing a sponsored challenge. Raising money for Litter Free Dorset means the challenge will run again in 2023

Alongside having some fun, you can also help provide litter data to the Preventing Plastic Pollution project to better inform solutions to tackle plastic pollution long term.

Sophie Colley, coordinator of Litter Free Dorset said: “We’re excited to be running the Litter Free Dorset Challenge again this year. 120 brilliant volunteers took part in last year’s challenge. In total they collected approximately one ton of litter – the equivalent weight of a baby humpback whale. With double the number of participant spaces available in this year’s challenge, we’re hoping we’ll be able to double the amount of litter collected.”

Amanda Arnold, Preventing Plastic Pollution researcher said: “We are really pleased to be supporting the Litter Free Dorset Challenge again in 2022. The more information gathered by volunteers on the types and quantities of litter in our environment, the better our ability to identify where it is coming from and the more likely we can create lasting solutions to stem the flow of plastics entering our rivers and seas.”

Alongside the challenge, Litter Free Dorset is encouraging participants and challenge supporters to join the Litter Free Dorset Challenge Facebook group. This will be used for participants to share their challenge progress and to also receive support.

To get involved with the Litter Free Dorset Challenge log onto https://www.dorsetcoasthaveyoursay.co.uk/the-litter-free-dorset-challenge

• Facebook: @LitterFreeDorset
• Instagram: @litterfreedorset
• Twitter: @LitterFreeDrst