From: Michele Hider – Christchurch City Council
Communication Team

MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 4 September 2003

Christchurch readies for Clean Up week

Grab a group of friends or workmates and have fun, cleaning up your neighbourhood or another special part of Christchurch, for this month’s Clean Up New Zealand week ( 15-21 September).

The event, co-ordinated by Christchurch City Council, is part of the international United Nations ‘Clean Up The World’ programme and is sponsored locally by Hire a Hubby, McDonalds and The Warehouse.

It relies on individuals, groups, schools and business picking a site in their local area and cleaning it up. Across the globe, about 40 million people take part in the annual event, including more than 180,000 New Zealanders.

“Clean Ups can range from a family removing litter from a local park to efforts from companies such as Amcor Cartons, who are this year paying staff to remove graffiti in Hornby,” Clean Up New Zealand’s Christchurch co-ordinator, Nicola Martin says.

One of this year’s largest Christchurch clean-ups will be along the tow path track, off Settlers Cres, Ferrymead on Saturday 20 September, 10am –12.30pm. The Youth Hostel Association and Christchurch City Council park rangers, who are organising the event, are hoping as many people as possible will attend, Nicola says.

“We are encouraging everyone involved in the week to think about ways of reducing waste as they clean up. Bring along your old gardening gloves rather than use our plastic ones and take along a litter free lunch with no plastic wrap and a reusable drink bottle,” she says.

To register your event or be part of one of the week’s organised activities contact Nicola Martin on 941 8832. Free bags and gloves are available. Assistance with disposal of rubbish can also be arranged.

ENDS

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