MORE than £1m of taxpayers' money is spent on collecting litter and emptying bins but a group of like-minded campaigners want to change this.

The first Herefordshire Litter Forum was held this week and brought together more than 40 pro-active litter picking groups, businesses and organisations

The Stop the Drop Litter Pledge campaign was launched which aims to get at least 100 pledges from individuals, community groups, businesses and schools to organise litter picks around their premises and to promote measures to stop litter being dropped in the first place.

Cllr Barry Durkin, Herefordshire's Council's cabinet member for transport and regulatory services, said at the forum: "It is not a one-off. I want this to be a collaboration and a movement forward and spread it into the community.

"We spend £1m of council taxpayers' money picking up litter and emptying bins which could be spent elsewhere."

Cllr Elissa Swinglehurst has pushed for the council to write to central government to propose a tax on fast food (take away) outlets, confectionary and crisp manufacturers, alcohol and soft drink companies and tobacco companies since these are the main items which are littered. She said the money can then be used to clean and tidy the streets and countryside.

Jane Denny, from Herefordshire Council's Stop the Drop campaign, said the council is aiming to address the problem of littering by educating the public.

She said: "We need to generate a culture where it is not acceptable to drop litter."

She has spoken to 59 assemblies across the county and reached 10,000 young people.

Wendy Harvey regularly carries out litter picks in Grafton Lane. She said: "I have always been amazed at the amount of litter. I can't understand how people do it so regularly when it just makes such a blight everywhere for everybody else."

She said communities are getting fed up of seeing so much litter and groups across the county need to join forces so they do not feel alone in fighting the problem.

Ms Harvey said they need to make dropping litter as socially unacceptable as drink drinking and not picking up dog mess.

Emma Jones from the Hereford Community Clean Up Group spoke about their work around the city. The group regularly goes out and carries out litter picks: they are all volunteers.

Linzy Outrim, from Balfour Beatty Living Places, said Cusop Parish Council agreed to have their litter bins removed which actually reduced the amount of litter as she said people took their litter home with them.

Dave Hough, from the council's community protection team, explained how littering is a criminal offence and there are four enforcement officers. People who drop litter can be fined £80. Officers need to observe the litter being dropped or have credible eye witness accounts. Since April 2017, 37 fixed penalty notices have been issued for littering.

You can plan your own litter pick. To borrow a litter pack call 01432 261800. Go to herefordshire.gov.uk/stopthedrop to find out litter picks in your area and to sign up to the pledge or call 01432 383449.