Residents encouraged to help keep South Oxfordshire and the Vale clean this autumn

Published 21 September 2026

Residents are being encouraged to play their part in keeping parks, streets and countryside looking their best during the final week of the Waste Less. Clean Spaces. Better Places. campaign.

Throughout Clean Spaces Week, the councils will celebrate the many people who already help care for their local area while encouraging everyone to take one small action that keeps shared spaces clean.

Whether it’s taking litter home when a bin is full, picking up one piece of litter while out walking or joining a local litter pick, every action helps.  Taking your litter home, when possible, also helps to ensure more items, such as cans and bottles, can be recycled.

Councillor Sue Cooper, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We’re fortunate to have beautiful parks, rivers, villages and market towns across South Oxfordshire and the Vale. Our residents take pride in where they live. Our fantastic street cleaning crew work hard across the districts, but they can’t be everywhere at once. That’s why this week; we’re asking communities to make a small change this week to help keep their surroundings clean.”

Councillor Robert Clegg, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Climate Action and Nature Recovery at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “Most people already get it right by taking their litter home, or discarding it in a nearby bin. We want to encourage residents to continue their good work, making sure that everyone has a clean space to relax in. If everyone is mindful of their own litter, we can all be proud of our parks and streets.”

Residents can follow the councils’ social media channels throughout the week for daily challenges and stories celebrating local volunteers and community groups.