Chesterfield litter picking group's concern over discarded needles dumped in a bag
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Members of Chesterfield Litter Picking Group were out on the streets of Clay Cross this weekend, and as well as plenty of rubbish they also found ‘a number of dumped needles’.
The group, who organise litter picks across the area, also say they are concerned by the amount of fly-tipping since the pandemic began.
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Hide AdSpokesperson Tracey Clifford said: “We found some odd things like a matching pair of suitcases that had been dumped near the top of Holmgate Road, a desk chair that looked to have been there for years near the car park off Market Street, a roll of electrical cable, guttering, and quite a few discarded needles.”
In a post on Facebook, the group said the needles had been found in a bag and could easily have punctured a volunteer’s glove, requiring a ‘trip to A&E’.
A total of 22 volunteers took part in the litter pick, with around half coming from CCS Media, on Derby Road, who asked for some help to clean up Clay Cross.
Tracey said: “It gathered a lot of interest from people in the area, they stopped to thank us for clearing the rubbish and said what a great job we were doing, which has also led to people wanting to come to the next group litter pick.
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Hide Ad“Mick Cave at North East Derbyshire District Council supplied equipment for me to lend to people, along with Hi-Vis vests and arranged for the bags to be collected as soon as possible.
"He has also supplied sharps containers for any needles we find.
“During the pandemic, a lot of the group members have commented about the increase in general littering but also fly tipping.. Some of this could be from when the council recycling centres were closed during lockdown.”
The next group litter pick for Clay Cross is on April 10 at 10.30am, meeting at Sharley Park. There will also be a group litter pick on May 30 in Holmewood, working alongside Heath and Holmewood Parish Council.
For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page.