In the citywide project, the Big Tidy brought a serious sparkle back to all 34 wards of Bristol. Here’s what we got done from September 2019 to March 2023.

• 1,800+ streets, footpaths and bridges sparkling again
• Over 11,000 tags cleared walls, bridges, benches and bollards
• More than 750 tonnes of litter, fly-tip and detritus collected
• 800+ fly-tips cleared and investigated
• 7,000+ residents and businesses engaged by our community engagement team
• 1,196 volunteers completed 90 community litter picks
• 41 Big Tidy community events

Since April 2023, the crews have cleansed over 400 streets, cleared 175 fly-tips and removed over 6,000 graffiti tags in priority areas.

From April 2024, the Big Tidy teams have been visiting priority streets in wards across Bristol. Look out for our lamppost wraps to know when our crews will be in the area!

Specific locations within each ward are chosen for based on data including the local environmental quality survey, quality of life survey, fly-tips removed, litter tonnages, and reporting. We also work with Bristol City Council housing officers to identify gardens and areas that need a deep clean.

Keep an eye on our social media channels to find out where the Big Tidy crew are currently working. We also post about upcoming community litter picks and events that you can get involved in. 

If the Big Tidy is coming to your street, you may receive a letter from our friendly community engagement officer telling you the location-specific work we’ll be carrying out in your area.

The Big Tidy is currently working in priority areas, with a focus on council-owned land.

• If you live in a council property and are experiencing an issue relating to litter, fly-tipping, graffiti or overgrown vegetation in your area, please let us know at bigtidy@bristolwastecompany.co.uk and we’ll direct you to the relevant team.
• If you do not live in a council property, you can report lots of different street issues on the Bristol City Council website.
• If you live in a council property and are unable to take care of your garden due to age or disability, please contact your housing officer about organising a Big Tidy visit. Please be aware that there are many properties on the Big Tidy’s list, so an urgent visit may not be possible.

We’re inviting everyone to join in with the Big Tidy by making a Big Tidy pledge to help bring the sparkle back to their street. Pledges can be as simple as picking up the next piece of litter you see and putting it in the bin (or even better, take it home with you to be recycled).

Children can also get involved with our Little Big Tidiers scheme! Litter picking is a great way to get outside with the family, and as a Little Big Tidier your child completes 6 litter picks (with a special prize at the end!) Register your child here and our team will send you a loyalty card to record your picks.

There are loads of ways for you community group to join in the Big Tidy: invite our community engagement officers to speak at your next meeting, organise a Big Tidy litter pick, tell us about the issues in your area, teach your community how to report issues such as flytipping and flyposting, tagging, litter, and streets that need cleaning; tell your network about the campaign on social media, and finally – make a Big Tidy pledge! Don’t forget to use the Big Tidy hashtags on social media: #BristolCleanStreets and #BigTidy

We’d love for your school to join in the Big Tidy! Here are just some ideas for taking part: Invite our community engagement officers to speak at a school assembly, organise a litter pick in the area around your school, let us know what the issues are in your area, tell your network about the campaign on social media, and finally – make a Big Tidy pledge! Don’t forget to use the Big Tidy hashtags on social media: #BristolCleanStreets and #BigTidy

Start by making a Big Tidy pledge! Tell us about the issues in your area, speak to our community engagement officers about your legal obligations for managing commercial waste, and report litter, tagging, fly-tipping and fly-posting to Bristol City Council. 

Litter picking is another great way to improve your business’s green credentials, get the team out in the fresh air, and build a strong relationship with local communities. We also encourage Big Tidy businesses to organise their own team litter picks, clean up local streets, or just ask other businesses to bring their bins in.

Want to get involved? Drop us an email at bigtidy@bristolwastecompany.co.uk and our friendly team can get you started. We can also work with you to connect you with local community groups and hold an even bigger litter pick.