A volunteer group has taken to the streets of Salford to tackle the ever-growing issue of litter within the community.
While some residents are feeling ‘helpless’ with the growing tonnage of litter found around the Salford area. A growing group of volunteers from Blackfriars Trinity Group are fighting back by conducting monthly, and soon to be weekly litter picking events.
Blackfriars Trinity Community led by Brain Westley are ‘beyond concerned’ about the growing litter in and around the community and frustrated with the council’s lack of action to tackle it.
Mr Westley said: “I contacted the council in June 2024, it’s now March 2025 and nothing has been done.
“There is no support from the council, I am so frustrated they deal with the symptoms but not the cause. It can be so overwhelming. They’ll kick this issue down the curb if they have to.
“We will continue to do litter picking events forever and a day. I am American, and appreciate all the UK has done for me and want to give back.
“It’s not just about litter picking, it’s about building a community, it’s about having fun.”
Another Salford resident feels as though the council have ‘given up on it’ leaving them feeling ‘lost’ and ‘helpless’.
The group managed to collect 110 bags last week in two hours alone. Glass bottles, plastic bags, clothing and broken furniture are some of the many items found thrown into the streets. However, more dangerous items were also found by volunteers.
Last week a volunteer from Blackfriars Community Group found a gun ‘hidden in a sock, inside a plastic bag’.
Mr Westley said: “It shouldn’t be the job of the local community to do these things, it can be dangerous, but if we don’t do anything about it, no one will”.
According to a Freedom of Information request sent to Salford Council, East Salford, which includes Kersal and Broughton Park, Broughton and Blackfriars and Trinity, saw the highest levels of fines for littering, fly-tipping and trade waste in 2024 highlighting the issue of littering within the community.
For those interested in helping the Blackfriars Trinity Community Group, you can find them on their Facebook group Here.
The group will be conducting another litter picking event on the 6th of April, at 12:00pm at Blackfriars Park. M3 6LZ.
The council have been asked for comment