Little mountain drives home cost of clearing Avon Ring Road

Rubbish collected from the Avon Ring Road was piled up at Yate transfer station as part of a campaign targeting crime and anti-social behaviour.

South Gloucestershire Council wanted to show how much litter and debris was collected from the road and its verges, as well as highlighting the ongoing cost of clearing it up –more than £50,000 a year.

The council recently prosecuted a company after waste from one of its vehicles spilled out onto the ring road.

Bristol Waste Management was fined £1,500 and also ordered to pay more than £2,000 in costs and legal fees.

The council hopes the action it took will persuade other firms to take more care when transporting waste, as well as encouraging all road users not to discard litter.

The mountain of rubbish was organised for the start of Not in My Neighbourhood Week, a nationwide scheme being supported in South Gloucestershire that also involves the police and fire service.

Activities aimed at making communities safer and improving people's quality of life have been organised, including the removal of graffiti in Staple Hill, Filton and Chipping Sodbury.

Youngsters at Little Stoke Youth Club are also learning about the impact of anti-social behaviour and information stands have been set up across the district so people can find out what is being done to help tackle crime and bad behaviour.