On the 25th of March more than 20 volunteers from Litter Pick of the North including three from the McDonald’s Astley Bridge restaurant gave up their time to spruce up areas of the community in support of the national Great British Spring Clean campaign. It is the second year McDonald’s is supporting the campaign and this is just one of many events McDonald’s restaurants are carrying out across the country.

The group embarked on the challenge to give Astley Bridge and its surrounding areas a Spring refresh, with the team of 20 volunteers clearing an impressive 77 bags of litter. The volunteers were also joined by Lib Dem activist Warren Fox. The McDonald’s restaurant commits the last Sunday in every month to help the volunteers and the community to keep the restaurants surrounding area clean.

McDonald’s is also making changes instore, with over 1,000 of its UK restaurants having front-of-house recycling facilities in which all packaging, including paper cups, can be separated in order for them to be recycled.

McDonald’s franchisee Dave Shaw said: “I was really proud to see everyone come together and help tidy up Astley Bridge. It’s a key priority of ours to ensure that the local area remains free of litter and an enjoyable place to live, work and visit. As a business we understand the important role that we play in making the area a better place.”

Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton, said: “I am delighted that McDonald’s has agreed to sponsor and support this year’s Great British Spring Clean. The company has been active in championing litter prevention activity for many years and teams from their restaurants already undertake up to four litter picks a day. Support from McDonald’s crew members and customers will be invaluable in helping raise awareness of the litter that surrounds us and the fact that we can all take action to prevent it.”

Alongside large community litter events like these, every McDonald’s restaurant carries out at least three litter patrols a day to collect all litter that has been discarded, regardless of its origin. Crew members across the UK cover a total of 3,000 miles each week on litter patrols, which equates to 150,000 miles a year and the distance of five marathons each year per store.