Four tonnes of rubbish was cleared from Maes Castell, Llanllyfni on Thursday thanks to the hard work and elbow grease of local people.
The day was supported by Gwynedd Council, Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd, the Fire and Rescue Service, North Wales Police, The Probation Trust and others.
The day was aimed at bringing local residents together with various agencies to improve the local area by dealing with environmental problems which may be causing concern to local people.
The day was also an opportunity to improve waste disposal and recycling facilities locally. Staff from the various agencies took part in the day to lend a hand, offer advice and to raise awareness of various matters such as environmental crime, fire safety, crime prevention and housing.
Three skips were filled with rubbish on the day, which equates to around four tonnes of trash, as volunteers and the agencies all mucked in. Rubbish cleared from the area included ole settees, carpets and electrical appliances such as fridges and freezers.
Iona Thomas, Gwynedd Council’s Tidy Towns officer, said: “We hope that this day will encourage local people to take responsibility for the local environment and that they will take pride in the look and feel of the estate, including disposing of their waste in a safe and responsible manner.”
Councillor Gareth Roberts, Gwynedd Council’s Senior Environment Portfolio Leader, said: “I was very proud that so many people wanted to work together to make Gwynedd a good place to live, work and visit. Now that the hard work has been completed we are optimistic that people will continue to respect and take pride in their community and the environment, and not allow the problem to take root once again in this beautiful area.”
Haydn Maxwell, Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd’s Services Coordinator, said: “Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd aims to ensure that our tenants live in a pleasant and safe environment. This type of event encourages residents to take pride in their area and is also an excellent opportunity to bring local people together to improve the community.
“I would like to thank all those who took part in the cleanup day on Thursday including the tenants and our partners for their enthusiasm and hard work.”
Terry Williams, county safety officer for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: One of the main aims of the day was to work in partnership with the local community to improve the area for all who live here. Clean and tidy areas mean safer communities with less crime and antisocial behaviour.
“We hope that the day will encourage local people to take responsibility for the sake of their own safety as well as for the sake of the environment.”
The day was joint funded by Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd and the Welsh Government’s Tidy Towns scheme, which is administered by Gwynedd Council.
Fly tipping and littering is an environmental crime. To find out how to dispose of your waste safely and legally or to organise for the Council to collect a bulky waste – such as an item which is too big to go in the bin such as furniture – contact Gwynedd Council on 01766 771000 or visit www.gwynedd.gov.uk/recycling
