Teams from SSG and SAS m Million Mile Clean in and around Plymouth’s Forder Valley.

The Million Mile Clean, launched by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) in 2021, encourages volunteers to clean over 10 miles of UK landscapes each year.

A key part of this initiative is ‘The Brand Audit’, where collected waste is analysed and reported back to SAS. This data feeds into SAS's Citizen Science project, helping identify the worst-polluting companies and supporting efforts to urge the government to take stronger action to protect our natural spaces.

Donned in their hi-vis jackets with litter pickers (made from recycled fishing rods) and heavy-duty SAS Million Mile Clean bags, the team began their clean-up from Plymouth Snowsports Centre and worked their way to the Forder Valley Esso garage. Along the entire stretch of road, where the pavement met the nature reserve, they found litter embedded in the bushes, grass, and soil.

“We found the things you’d expect, like food wrappers and empty drink cans or bottles, but also things like scrap metal, tyres, air fresheners… we even found someone’s bank card!” said one member of the team.

By the end of their clean-up, they had collected five full bags of rubbish, including parts of a motorcycle too large to fit into a bag. The waste was later transferred to the council’s purple bags for collection from Poole Farm, with the total weight revealed to be over 50 kilograms – the equivalent of a small hot tub or a giant Pacific octopus.

“I organised the walk because I’m passionate about a clean, healthy environment and am sick of seeing rubbish in beautiful natural areas, especially along riverbanks, beaches, and pathways,” said Andy Peters, one of SSG’s Health and Safety Trainers and Advisors. “By using the council purple bags, we hope to raise awareness, as it is them who ultimately have to collect and dispose of the waste. We want to encourage them to provide suitable bins to enable people to dispose of their waste responsibly.” 

SSG look forward to taking part in more of these walks before the end of the year and continuing to make a positive impact on our local environment.