Love where you live

Cardiff Council’s Love Where You Live Campaign is all about cleaning up the streets and communities in Cardiff and we would love you to get involved! Whether it’s coming along to a group litter pick, doing a bit of urban gardening, or reporting a fly-tip – it all adds up and makes a big difference to where you live.

To find out more click on the headings below.

Our
Latest
Campaigns

Become a
Litter Champ

Zero tolerance
approach to
littering

Raising recycling
awareness

Student
education

Our Latest Campaigns

Take a look at our latest campaigns and find out how you can get involved.

Become a Litter Champion

Are you interested in helping your local community and helping to clean up Cardiff’s streets of litter? Then why not become a Litter Champion!

If you sign up as a Litter Champion, then you will have access to borrow litter picking equipment and pink bags from your local hub and/or library. Making it simple to get stuck into the rewarding world of litter picking!

If you are more interested in litter picking with a group, then the details for Cardiff’s local litter picking groups can be found here.

If you are going out, please make sure that you are following the safety guidance below and let us know what you are up to – we love a photo! You can email pictures to lovewhereyoulive@cardiff.gov.uk

Litter Picking – Safe-Working Practices

You are responsible for your own safety when out and about. Please read our safety instructions and follow them whilst on your litter pick. Be sensible and avoid taking risks.

Please don’t go out if you feel unwell or are otherwise showing cold or flu like symptoms, have a high temperature or a new and persistent cough.
Never pick up litter with your hands, always use a litter picker.
If you wish to use gloves for your litter pick, please use your own personal glove. Wash your hand thoroughly for 20 seconds using soap and hot water before and after your pick.
Please wear sensible and appropriate clothing, covered shoes, and clothing suitable for Cardiff’s changeable weather. If it is sunny, please wear sleeves, a hat, sunscreen and remember to stay hydrated. If you have access to a high visibility vest, we recommend you wear it.
Have a mobile phone charged and handy in case of emergencies.
Please do not litter pick areas close to busy or high-speed roads (there is still traffic about), on or near railway tracks, or near or in water. Please also be mindful of the general landscape.
Only litter pick in areas that are well lit and where visibility is good. Please do not litter pick at dusk or after dark.
Mind your step if litter picking in areas of vegetation. The ground can be uneven, and vegetation can cover hidden hazards.

Our crews will only collect bags that have been provided for volunteers and will NOT collect black bags. Please get in touch with us if you would like some.

To sign up get in contact with the team on 029 2071 7564 or lovewhereyoulive@cardiff.gov.uk and we will get all the information out to you.

There are currently no scheduled events.

Zero tolerance approach to littering

Advertising throughout the city will remind litterbugs of the fines they can face if enforcement officers find them littering.

Enforcement officers use both the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 to issue Fixed Penalty Notices from £100 for littering up to an unlimited fine imposed by the court for fly tipping offences.

There are a number of enforcement teams operating in the city and an additional team is now operating in student areas of the city.

Enforcement Officers do not only focus on residential or business properties that do not present their waste correctly at the kerbside. They will also enforce against those that illegally store waste in the frontages of properties and companies or individuals that put skips on the highway or on council land without the correct permission.

Don’t get caught out, check your collections or view the waste fines you could face.

Raising recycling awareness

Doing your bit to recycle and compost is essential for the city. The Welsh Government has set challenging recycling targets, higher than the targets set in England. The City needs to recycle and compost 64% by 2020, increasing to 70% by 2025.

We would like to thank all those that are working with us to separate their waste for recycling.

All local authorities in Wales could be financially penalised if these targets are not met. This could be as high as £400 000 for every percent missed from these targets. It is in the interests of the tax payer for everyone to play their part and recycle and compost as much of their waste as possible.

How to separate your waste

Student education

The Love Where You Live team offer school visits to all Primary and Secondary schools in Cardiff. We can take children on a litter pick of the local area, or come into an assembly or classroom and talk about litter and fly-tipping issues.

If Welsh Baccalaureate pupils are looking to take part in the Neighborhood Enhancement element, we can help support the school to deliver that.

We also run the Love Where You Live badge aimed at members of Scouting and Guiding, completely free for all units within Cardiff.

To request a school visit, or the Love Where You Live badge pack, get in contact with the team on 029 2071 7564 or lovewhereyoulive@cardiff.gov.uk