Help Keep Blackpool’s Shores Sparkling: Join the Great British Beach Clean!

From Friday 19th to Sunday 28th September 2025, the Great British Beach Clean returns, uniting thousands across the UK in a mission to clean our coastlines.

Why Your Help Matters

Blackpool’s coastline is subject to high levels of marine debris, washed ashore or left behind by visitors. Picking up even a little waste helps wildlife, protects water quality, and keeps the promenade beautiful. While we have a dedicated Street Cleansing Service which operates 365 days a year, from 6am to 6pm, emptying over 1,000 public litter-bins, removing around 5,000 fly tips, and cleaning 6 miles of beach and the seafront. Your involvement helps create civic pride along with helping the team at the same time.

How You Can Get Involved

Join a beach clean

  • SEA LIFE Blackpool Beach Cleans
    Regular beach cleans take place throughout the year. The next one is on Sunday, 28th September at 10 AM. Meet opposite the SEA LIFE centre (by the RNLI); all kit is provided.

Become a KBT Volunteer

While signing up, you can select from one of the following options:

  • I would like to request a litter-picking kit
  • I am a Blackpool Resident who would like to arrange a litter pick in my community
  • I am from a business/company and would like to organise a litter-picking event in Blackpool
  • I am from a Blackpool school and would like to look at the options available for environmental awareness

Share it around

  • Encourage friends, family, schools, and local groups to get involved
  • SNAP your clean-up efforts and tag #GreatBritishBeachClean or #KeepBlackpoolTidy to inspire others

Together, let’s Keep Blackpool Tidy!

 

Second Hand September in Blackpool

We’re calling on Blackpool residents to choose pre-owned items instead of brand-new ones this Second Hand September, which will save them money and benefit the environment!

Launched by Oxfam, Second Hand September is all about reducing waste and rethinking how we shop. By choosing second-hand items instead of buying new, we can all help cut down on unnecessary waste and lower our carbon footprint.

Getting involved is easy:

  • Donate your unwanted items in good condition
  • Shop second-hand before buying new
  • Repair or repurpose instead of throwing things away

Blackpool’s Second-Hand Hotspots

Blackpool is full of opportunities to shop second-hand:

But one of Blackpool’s hidden gems for second-hand treasure is right at the heart of our recycling efforts…

The Re-use Shop at the HWRC

Located at the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) on Bristol Avenue, the Re-use Shop is a fantastic place to give items a second life, and find a bargain in the process!

The Reuse Shop sells a wide variety of quality, pre-loved items including:

  • Furniture and homeware
  • Toys and bikes
  • Electrical goods
  • Garden tools and décor

All items have been saved from landfill, cleaned, and prepared for resale, so you’re not just shopping sustainably, you’re also supporting the local community.

If you’re dropping off waste at the HWRC, check first; your unwanted items might be perfect for the Reuse Shop.

Let’s work together to cut waste, save money, and protect our planet, one second-hand item at a time.

Visit the Reuse Shop at the HWRC and do your part this Second Hand September today!

Enveco’s Commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and Ex-Armed Forces Staff

We’re proud to demonstrate our ongoing support for the Armed Forces community through meaningful action, recognition, and inclusion.

We have recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a public pledge that underlines our commitment to supporting those who have served in the Armed Forces. As a result, we are now officially listed on the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) register and have proudly achieved Bronze ERS membership.

To celebrate this commitment, on 14th August, Enveco hosted a special presentation for our staff who have previously served in the Armed Forces. The event was led by our Chair, Councillor Adrian Hoyle, who also serves as Armed Forces Champion for the Blackpool Council.

The gathering provided a relaxed opportunity for our ex-forces staff to come together, share their stories, and reflect on their service. Councillor Hoyle also presented each team member with a custom Enveco lanyard, designed especially to recognise and honour their time in the Armed Forces.

This event is not a one-off. Going forward, we will be hosting quarterly gatherings to bring together Ex-Forces staff, fostering a strong internal community where veterans can feel connected and supported.

Additionally, we’ve embedded our Covenant and ERS pledges into our day-to-day operations. These include:

  • Covenant and ERS logos proudly displayed on our company website and in all staff email signatures
  • A welcoming and inclusive culture that recognises the valuable skills and experiences veterans bring to our team

We’re committed to ensuring that the values of the Armed Forces Covenant are lived out in our organisation, not just in words, but in actions. Whether it’s through dedicated events, visible recognition, or fostering peer support, Enveco NW is proud to stand with our Armed Forces community.

We extend our sincere thanks to all those who have served, and we look forward to continuing this important journey together.

Enveco NW Hosts Their First-Ever Thank You Event to Celebrate Blackpool’s Volunteers

On Wednesday, 26 February 2025, Enveco NW hosted their first “Thank You” event at the Blackpool Football Club, celebrating the selfless volunteers who dedicate their time to ‘Keeping Blackpool Tidy’. Over 140 attendees gathered for an afternoon of recognition and appreciation.

Enveco’s 250 dedicated employees work across a range of services. These include Parks and Grounds Maintenance, Street Cleansing, Domestic and Commercial Waste Collection, Blackpool Council and Enveco’s Fleet Maintenance, Pest Control, Building Cleaning, and the management of the Household Waste Recycling Centre (tip). The volunteers who were celebrated at the event play a vital role in ‘Keeping Blackpool Tidy’.

The afternoon began with a presentation showcasing images of volunteers in action—picking up litter, maintaining public spaces, and supporting local initiatives. Diane Farley, Enveco’s Neighborhood Officer, took the stage to express her gratitude to the volunteers for their continuous efforts. She was joined by the Chair of Enveco’s Board, Councillor Adrian Hoyle, who also offered heartfelt thanks, underscoring the vital role that volunteers play.

A memorable highlight was the first appearance of Enveco’s Keep Blackpool Tidy Mascot. The mascot, which promotes responsible waste disposal, was well-received by the crowd, adding a fun and engaging touch to the afternoon. The mascot’s debut was a perfect symbol of Enveco’s efforts to combine education, community involvement, and environmental stewardship.

As part of the celebration, attendees were treated to a tour of the Blackpool Football Club grounds. This special tour was a bonus for everyone, allowing them to connect further with the town’s local culture and landmarks.

This event was a reminder of the power of community engagement. The volunteers’ hard work is essential to adding sparkle to the town.

Enveco’s Managing Director, John Hawkin, said: “We are deeply grateful to all our volunteers for their commitment to ‘Keeping Blackpool Tidy’. This event was a way of showing our appreciation and celebrating their efforts”.

Enveco looks forward to continuing its collaboration with volunteers and residents to ‘Keep Blackpool Tidy’ and from our team we want to say a big THANK YOU for all you do!

Take a look at the pictures from the afternoon by clicking HERE. 

Conclusion of the 2024/25 Bag It, Bin It Campaign

Continuing the Fight Against Dog Fouling in Blackpool: Bag It, Bin It Campaign 2024/2025

As we conclude the second year of the Bag It, Bin It campaign, we reflect on the progress made in addressing the ongoing issue of dog fouling across Blackpool. Launched in partnership with Blackpool Council, the campaign has raised awareness, encouraged responsible dog ownership, and made significant strides in improving community engagement. The team’s continued focus on tackling dog fouling, especially during the darker months when incidents tend to rise, has shown meaningful results.

This year, 502 stencils were deployed throughout the town, reminding dog owners to “Bag It, Bin It,” while over 150 posters were placed in key locations to further reinforce the message. In addition to these visible reminders, we saw a remarkable increase in community participation. Over 500 ‘you have done the right thing’ cards were distributed, giving the responsible dog walkers a chance to enter a competition. The number of cards uploaded online rose to 101, an impressive increase from the previous year.

These efforts reflect a significant uptake in engagement, demonstrating that residents are becoming more mindful of their responsibilities when walking dogs. 3 warnings were issued this year, highlighting our commitment to educating the public and ensuring compliance. While the number of penalties remained low, this aligns with the intention to foster a culture of responsibility rather than relying on punitive measures.

The “Do the Right Thing” competition returned this year to reward responsible dog walkers. Winners are celebrated each month, receiving prizes such as a month’s supply of dog food. The competition not only acknowledges responsible behavior but also helps to inspire others to follow suit.

The challenge remains in continuing to educate and raise awareness. To that end, we continue to use street stencils as a visible tool to reinforce the campaign’s message and encourage responsible dog ownership.

As we wrap up the 2024/2025 campaign, we are proud of the progress made. The success of Bag It, Bin It reflects the power of community collaboration. While there’s still work to be done, we remain committed to reducing dog fouling and maintaining clean streets in Blackpool. By working together, we can continue to “Bag It, Bin It” and create a cleaner, safer environment for everyone.

Enveco Launches Vape Recycling Initiative at Blackpool’s Household Waste Recycling Centre

We are excited to announce the launch of a vape recycling initiative at the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), marking an important step forward in managing waste from single-use vapes.

The HWRC team has been actively exploring ways to manage and recycle the growing volume of vape waste. After considerable research and efforts, they discovered a cost-effective solution following discussions with a Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) provider. In response, Enveco’s HWRC applied to the producer-funded scheme, resulting in Wastecare, a leading waste management company based in Widnes, being selected to handle vape recycling. The Wastecare solution is fully funded from the producer-funded scheme, ensuring a sustainable and cost-effective approach for Blackpool residents.

The recycling process is simple and efficient. Residents can drop off their used vapes at the HWRC, where they will be safely stored in a specially provided receptacle. This ensures the safe disposal and recycling of vapes, reducing the environmental impact of these products.

Whilst it’s too early to estimate the total volume of vape waste, Enveco is optimistic that this initiative will provide a sustainable solution as demand for recycling increases, particularly with the government’s move towards a ban on single-use vapes.

Councillor Adrian Hoyle, Chair of the Enveco Board said:

“This is a significant step forward in vape waste management, benefiting both the environment and Blackpool. Enveco remains committed in providing innovative waste solutions and continues to seek new ways to improve recycling programs for the residents of Blackpool.”

Are you ready for the Christmas/Winter season?

To help, we have some important updates, helpful tips, and seasonal reminders to make your waste disposal and recycling efforts even easier during the festive season and beyond.

Green Waste

The Green Waste Service will have the usual winter break between the 22nd of November 2024 to the 17th of January 2025.

Christmas Tree Collection

Like previous years, the Trinity Hospice Charity will be collecting used Christmas Trees. If you would like your tree collected (for a small donation), please visit Trinity Hospice for details.

Winter Waste Collection Changes

To check your current waste collection day please click this link.

 

Winter and Post-Christmas Recycling Tips for Blackpool Residents

As the colder months and Christmas celebrations approach it’s important to stay mindful of how we handle our waste.

At Enveco NW, we’re committed to helping you recycle efficiently this winter. Here are some handy tips to make sure you’re doing your part for our environment:

Correct Use of Bins: Please ensure you’re using the right bins for your waste.

To help take a look at our BRAND NEW waste guide in the image below, which has been created with Makaton Symbols’*.

* Makaton is a communication programme that is increasingly used by people with communication difficulties to aid communication.

Wrapping Paper and Cards: Not all festive wrapping paper can be recycled. Avoid foil or glittery paper—stick to plain, non-laminated paper that can go in your brown sack.

Excess Packaging: With the increase in online deliveries, please remember to flatten and break down your cardboard boxes before placing them in your brown sack to make space for everyone’s recycling.

2. Unwanted Gifts and Items: If you have gifts you don’t need or items in good condition, consider donating them to our local Re-use Shop or a local charity. This helps reduce waste and supports the community.

3. Food Waste: During Christmas, food waste can increase significantly. Try to avoid overbuying and use leftovers creatively. If you do have unavoidable food waste, ensure it’s disposed of in your grey lidded bin.

By recycling thoughtfully and reusing where possible, we can all make a big difference this winter. Together, let’s Keep Blackpool Tidy and green throughout the festive season!

Keeping Blackpool Tidy with the help of the Environment Agency

Enveco NW Environmental Services Hosts The Second Annual Litter-Picking Event for Environment Agency Employees

This June, dedicated employees of the Environment Agency took to Blackpool’s beach and promenade to help Keep Blackpool Tidy from litter. Enveco’s street cleansing service diligently cleans the beach every morning from 6am, but due to the resort attracting a high footfall of visitors litter builds up throughout the day. The help from these events and Enveco’s valued volunteers adds an extra sparkle to Blackpool’s streets and town.

After a high tide, unusual items are often found on the beach, and this year was no exception, with the team discovering a large trowel and old metal buckets. The Environment Agency employees receive two volunteering days per year, and they have chosen litter picking again as they feel it’s crucial to the environment to keep it litter-free. Despite the wind, the team managed to collectively pick 72.5 kilograms of rubbish.

Enveco NW is proud to host this annual event, which not only benefits the local community but also demonstrates the Environment Agency’s commitment to environmental stewardship. If you would like to organise a company litter pick, email enquiries@enveconw.co.uk today – Or, if you want to become a part of the Keep Blackpool Tidy community,

If you want to a organise a company litter pick email enquires@enveconw.co.uk today. Or do you want to become apart of the Keep Blackpool Tidy community? Find out how today and go to the official Keep Blackpool Tidy page today.

Keep up-to-date with the latest Blackpool environmental campaigns and news by following socials today @EnvecoBlackpool.

Blackpool’s Pavement and Carriageway Weed Treatment!

Enveco are contracted by Blackpool Council to deliver a street cleansing service, including the management of weeds, across the town.

Enveco deal with weeds on council land (public realm), which covers roads, footpaths, parks and open spaces. The primary aim is to prevent problem weeds that compromise drainage systems, cause damage to highway and footpath surfaces, damage/interfere with structures, e.g., walls, or reduce visibility of signage and ensure weeds do not pose a health and safety risk for users of roads and footpaths. Weeds left untreated can cause slip/trip hazards and may cause obstructions on footpaths, forcing people to avoid and potentially move onto roads.

An integrated weed management plan is adopted that, combined with street cleansing activities, ensures a year-round approach is taken and does not just focus on killing of weeds through chemical treatment. The frequency of mechanical sweeping on highways has been increased to ensure road gulleys/kerb edges are kept clear of detritus to reduce opportunities for weed growth. All residential areas have both street and footpath mechanical sweeping scheduled throughout the year; again, this reduces the buildup of detritus, which can create seed beds for new weed growth, and regular sweeping clears the buildup of dead weeds.

Monthly street inspection surveys identify problem areas, in particular the growth of mares tail, which is resistant to chemical treatment and will direct staff to manually remove weeds.

The above approach is ensuring a reduction in the use of pesticides, though, as we do not have a viable alternative at present continue to use a glyphosate-based herbicide. This type of herbicide is known as a non-residual translocated herbicide. Glyphosate is used because it is the safest and most effective herbicide that is available and certified for use in amenity situations. It is neutralised in contact with soil and has very low toxicity to humans, animals, and insects, and is widely used by many local authorities across the country.

Weed treatment spraying commences in Spring (April/May) when weeds have started to grow, as the herbicide is only effective when sprayed on a plant because residual weed treatment chemicals aren’t used, which ‘poison’ the soil. A second spray then takes place in Summer (July/August) on remaining weeds/new growth to prolong the effectiveness of treatment.

Residents can help maintain weed-free streets and reduce the use of chemicals by clearing weeds that may have grown in front of their property or haven’t been treated due to parked cars preventing access manually.

The parks and open spaces team have reduced the use of chemicals to control weeds and is phasing out the use around tree bases and park furniture.

The Blackpool Green and Blue Infrastructure Policy has also encouraged the increase of areas left in a more natural state, so areas are not being mown or treated to encourage greater biodiversity.

We hope this information is useful, and for regular updates on street cleansing operations and weed treatments, please follow our Facebook account: @envecoblackpool, where we will post information on planned treatment dates.

 

Blackpool’s HWRC Heroes rescue car keys from the skip!

A Blackpool resident used the Household Waste Recycling Centre and unintentionally threw his car keys into a skip. In addition to being kind and efficient, the staff members went above and beyond to retrieve the keys.

Max Speakman of Blackpool visited the Household Waste Recycling Centre on January 29th. During the visit he unfortunately misplaced his car keys in the skip, while discarding the waste. When the visitor returned to his unlocked car and couldn’t find his keys he realised immediately – out of concern he went straight to an HWRC staff member for assistance. This occurred two minutes before the site was scheduled to close.

That day, every employee participated in the effort to find the missing keys. The team and the resident decided to call it a night after 30 minutes of nonstop searching in the rain. The Site Manager and Assistant Manager arranged for the unlocked vehicle to be left on site overnight, with security monitoring the vehicle until the keys could be found. In a panic, the resident returned home and began researching companies where he could purchase new car keys. He anticipated having to pay about £450.00 for replacements.

The following morning the Site Manager devised a strategy. He realised the most efficient way to look for the missing keys would be to arrange for the skip to be taken to the Layton Depot to be tipped out. The manager then contacted the resident to ask if he was happy with the plan – the resident was over the moon and was very pleased when the site manager said this would be done free of charge. The Assistant Manager and other HWRC staff members went to the Depot to sort through the waste, by 10:00am the keys had been found.

A great success and effort from all those involved.

The girlfriend of Max Speakman said:

“Honestly honestly honestly can’t thank all the workers enough – they went above and beyond and saved my grateful partner a lot of money. They didn’t have to do any of that and the fact that they did restored our faith in humanity”.