KFC Marsh Mills hits the streets of Plymouth litter picking for the Great British Spring Clean

April 2025: KFC Marsh Mills team members took to the streets of Plymouth on Tuesday to mark the Great British Spring Clean, an annual nationwide campaign to clean up the UK’s local communities. 

This year, 11 KFC team members in Plymouth were joined by The Deputy Lord Mayor for Plymouth, Councillor Pauline Murphy, the Deputy Lord Mayor’s Consort, Councillor Mark Coker on the day, collecting more than 8 bags of litter. 

As we enter Spring and people spend more time outside soaking up the warmer weather, the impact of litter across high streets, retail sites, parks and other green spaces in the UK has become a more noticeable eyesore for local communities. New research from KFC UK&I finds more than 1 in 10 (11%) Plymothians have littered in the last year. 

However, the research reveals an overwhelming desire among people in Plymouth to have clean and litter free communities. 84% of adults in Plymouth say they hate seeing rubbish in their communities, with a large majority saying that it makes them feel sad (83%) and angry (76%).  

Joining forces with Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean for the fifth year running, KFC UK&I has a number of measures in place to combat litter in Plymouth, including: 

Daily litter picking. KFC’s 1,000 restaurant teams across the UK&I undertake daily litter picks to clean up the streets around their restaurants. 

• Training initiatives for KFC’s 30,000 team members to increase their knowledge of the environmental impact of litter. 
• Anti-littering marketing messages, like #ItsLitterPickin’Good, used across KFC restaurants including window and drive thru signage, in-restaurant audio and menu board displays to encourage responsible behaviour. 

 Deputy Lord Mayor for Plymouth, Councillor Pauline Murphy, said: "Litter is unfortunately a growing problem, which is why initiatives like the Great British Spring Clean are important. I was pleased to spend the morning with KFC collecting litter and hearing what they’re doing to tackle this issue. Littering affects all parts of our community, and I look forward to working with businesses like KFC in the local area to find solutions that keep our streets tidy”. 

Jenny Packwood, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, KFC UK & Ireland added: “Littering has no place on the streets of our towns and cities, nor in the communities we serve. We may be famous for our fried chicken, but with great chicken comes great responsibility. That means being a good neighbour and taking responsibility to help keep our streets clean and tidy. We’re pleased to continue our support for Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean for the fifth year running, as we take action alongside the people in our communities to do our part and keep our streets clean.”