SOMERSET Council's waste contractor, SUEZ, has donated litter picking kits to a local charity.

60 litter picking kits have been given to charity CPRE Somerset, which will be given out to dedicated volunteers who will use the equipment to conduct litter picks in their local areas.

Some of the kits will also be given to schools taking part in the Marine Conservation Society’s Source to Sea Citizen science project - a campaign which focuses on the reducing inland litter in our oceans.

SUEZ purchased the litter picking kits through Waterhaul, based in Cornwall, which specialises in making new items out of abandoned fishing gear such as nets and old sails.

Lily Morton, Senior Community Liaison Manager at SUEZ, joined a local litter pick with CPRE Somerset volunteers in Crewkerne to test the litter kits out, which include a litter picker, a bag hoop, reusable bin bag, high vis vests and gloves.

Lily Morton, Senior Community Liaison Manager, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK said: “We’re delighted to be able to support the local CPRE group and Waterhaul through this donation.

"At SUEZ, our triple bottom line approach means we are committed to supporting the local environment that we serve and engaging with local residents in the community.

"By providing these litter picking kits to CPRE Somerset, we are encouraging more volunteers to help clean up their local areas.

"Through this donation we are also able to encourage students at schools to learn about the importance of protecting our natural habitats from litter and pollution.” 

Becky Collier, CPRE Somerset Manager said: “These new litter picking kits provided by SUEZ are just fantastic! 

"We are so grateful for their support.  CPRE Somerset is a small charity but our litter project is having a huge impact.

"Litter picking can be really satisfying (and quite addictive!) and we are proud to enable local people to help clean up their local patch.

"With these new kits, we can keep expanding our army of volunteers who are dotted around the whole county. 

"Little by little, it all adds up to a greener and cleaner Somerset.

"The fact that the Waterhaul kits are made from recycled ocean waste is brilliant - a total win-win! ”

Amy North, Equipment Coordinator, Waterhaul said: "We're proud to be working with Suez and CPRE Somerset who will be using our recycled litter picking equipment to help increase the positive impact of their clean-ups.

"We are thrilled to hear so many volunteers from the local community, including schools are taking part in tackling litter in Somerset which makes a direct impact on not only the local environment, but in preserving marine life and habitats too by using equipment that is made from 100 per cent recycled fishing gear."