Litter and Bank Holidays

Litter is not exactly an exciting topic but it bothers people when it is scattered where they want to be. The early May Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday 5th - Mon 7th May) is over and, unusually, we had a hot weekend. It was lovely to see so many people out in parks across London, but the littering masses were out in force too.
Not only Mayow Park but so many other parks suffered from the worst litter problems I have seen so early in the year.
There seem to be two types of litter generators:
1. Those that leave all their litter at the location where they gathered.
2. Those that thoughtfully collect all their rubbish, put it into bags and leave it all beside a park bin that is already too full to take even a crisp packet.
The people in first category are, in my view, anti-social, caring only about having fun and never mind about spoiling the environment for others.
The people in the second category are socially aware and show they care but are at the same time unaware that their left-overs will provide a free meal to park wildlife who will scatter the pizza remains, hummus dips, plastic bottles, glass bottles, drinks cans and all sorts of remains so that the area round the bins looks unpleasant.
People do not realise the problem unless they see the aftermath, the mess,  on the following day.
One solution could be to encourage people to take all their own rubbish home so that recyclable items and waste can be sorted and disposed of according to their local authority requirements.
This would need publicity via adverts on television, on buses, on billboards and anywhere else where people would see and take note.
This would cost - designing posters, making videos, pay for advertising space, publicise on social media.
But it is a national problem. So publicity should be national.
BBC Essex produced  a video of Southend beach after the bank holiday weekend
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-44046903/southend-beachgoers-leave-behind-piles-of-rubbish

Back at Mayow Park, on 8th May, three individuals simultaneously went to the park determined to clear up as much as they could. They met up which was a delight, positive encouragement. And a conversation has started on how to reach out to schools so that the pupils will become more aware of the issues and solutions.

One willing volunteer helping to look after her park.