Asda staff have taken to the waters of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal today to start a week-long litter pick which will involve hundreds of colleagues from the supermarket.
The Asda Big Canal Clean-up, in association with the Canal & River Trust, will see volunteers aim to cover a 10-mile stretch of the canal in the next five days in a bid to tackle plastic pollution on the waterways and the surrounding tow path.
Starting this morning at Newlay Locks in Kirkstall, teams of colleagues in canoes, boats and on the land will work their way down the canal, reaching Asda House by Wednesday and finishing at Knostrop Lock on Friday.
The litter pick is part of Asda’s commitment to tackle unnecessary plastic. The retailer has already removed 6,500 tonnes of own-brand plastic from across the business over the past 18 months.
“As a proud Leeds-based company, we want everyone to be able to enjoy the waterways in our city, free from litter,” said Chris Brown, Asda’s senior director for sustainable business. “We’re committed to tackling plastic waste in our own operations, but also have a rolling programme of litter picks in communities across the UK to remove plastic and other litter from our local environments.”
Sean McGinley, Yorkshire & North East director at Canal & River Trust, said: “Canal & River Trust is on a mission to eradicate plastics from our vast network of canals and rivers - helping us all to live in better, more beautiful neighbourhoods, whilst tackling a global issue, and making life better by water.
“We’re really excited to be partnering with Asda to realise this ambitious project to help look after our canals, as beautiful, inspiring places for people to enjoy. Volunteering with the Trust is a great opportunity for businesses and individuals alike to discover their local waterway and have fun while making a difference.”
No comments yet