When I’m out talking to people, one of the biggest concerns is fly-tipping, litter left on pavements, and poor upkeep of the streets. This isn’t just about appearance—it affects safety, pride in our area, and quality of life for everyone.
It only takes one person dropping a crisp packet to change how a street looks, or one person fly-tipping in a gennel to make it miserable for everyone. All too often, it is just left sitting there. This is not acceptable. The actions of a few should not be allowed to spoil our beautiful city.
Another growing concern is fly-tipping in children’s play areas. Many of these dumped bags contain sharp or hazardous items, which pose a serious danger to children using these spaces. This is completely unacceptable and must be addressed urgently.
We need better waste enforcement and regular clean-ups by the Council, including firm action on fly-tipping and bulky waste dumping. But the Council can’t change things alone—it takes all of us. It needs a joined-up effort between the council and the community.
I’d like to see more community clean-up days, where we all take some time to do the work we know needs doing. Working together, we can clear waste and take it to recycling centres. This is something I’ve done myself—helping someone who had waste build up in their garden. It took just a couple of hours to sort. Sometimes people just need a hand.
If people litter, we need to make it clear that their neighbours do not accept having to live among waste. If you want to get involved, join your local litter-picking group. Sheffield Litter Pickers are active across communities and can support you in setting up your own clean-up. If we work together, report issues, and hold the right people accountable, we can clean up our streets and restore pride in our neighbourhoods.
