Findings highlight a major challenge, and opportunity, for schools working towards Department for Education climate targets

The daily school run is the single biggest source of carbon emissions associated with England’s schools, according to the first national Count Your Carbon report, published today by Eco-Schools and Keep Britain Tidy. The findings arrive as schools across England are expected to have Climate Action Plans in place under the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, which includes a target to cut school emissions by 50% by 2030.

The report shows that pupil commuting accounts for 21% of a school’s total carbon footprint, making it the largest individual contributor – ahead of electricity use, which represents 11%, and any other single emission category. When expanded to include staff travel, school vehicles and school trips, transport generates around 40% of total school emissions. Taken together, this means that the full transport footprint of a school now outweighs the emissions from heating and powering its buildings, which together make up 27%.

The hot school dinner emerges as one of the most significant contributors to emissions within the school gates – and the largest individual contributor for primary schools – accounting for around 16% of a school’s carbon footprint(rising to 21% for primary schools). With 73% of meals recorded as omnivorous, 23% vegetarian and only 4% plant-based, the report suggests that small adjustments towards plant-forward menus could have a meaningful impact on overall emissions, providing a direct and practical route for schools to make measurable progress for climate action.

Drawing on data from more than 1,600 primary and secondary schools, the Count Your Carbon report provides the most comprehensive picture to date of emissions across England’s education sector. The findings challenge long-held assumptions that school carbon footprints are driven mainly by buildings and energy use, and point instead to everyday operational decisions – particularly around travel, food and procurement – that sit at the heart of school life and community engagement.

As a whole, secondary schools record the highest total emissions due to their size and operational complexity, with a typical secondary emitting 1,031 tCO₂e per year, the equivalent of almost 300 economy return flights from London to Hong Kong, and five times more total carbon than the average primary (204 tCO₂e). 

Rising car dependency, longer travel distances and limited alternatives mean the carbon cost of getting pupils to school has quietly overtaken some of the most energy-intensive activities within the school itself. Currently, across all school types, an average of 42% of pupils travel by car and only 9% utilise public transport, indicating that coordinated action with local authorities and transport planners is needed to reduce emissions.

Energy use within the school buildings adds significantly to emissions, with electricity contributing 11%. The fact that only 15% of schools are currently purchasing 100% renewable electricity suggests a real opportunity for schools to reduce their carbon footprint further by switching providers/tariffs. Encouragingly, close to 22% of schools indicated onsite self-generation of renewable electricity – such as via solar panels. Fuel contributes a further 16%, with 87% of schools relying on gas as their primary heating source, emphasising the ongoing importance of building energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation initiatives in educational settings.

While capital investment in buildings remains important, the report shows that many of the emissions schools are responsible for, particularly travel, food and procurement, sit outside of traditional estates management and have historically been difficult to measure. Keep Britain Tidy and Eco-Schools’ Count Your Carbon tool is the UK’s first free, full-scope carbon footprint calculator, built for – and in collaboration with – nurseries, schools and colleges. It supports educational settings to calculate, understand, reduce and track carbon emissions. This gives schools the data they need to meet the DfE expectations, prioritise action and embed sustainability across leadership, operationsand learning. Importantly, it also contains recommendations on how schools can take action to reduce carbon emissions, build a carbon reduction plan and monitor progress over time.

The data also highlights stark differences between communities. Rural schools have the highest carbon intensity (22 % higher than an urban school), producing almost one tonne (0.99) of CO₂ per pupil per year due to longer travel distances and limited alternatives to car travel. By contrast, suburban schools generate 0.84 and urban schools generate an average of 0.81 tCO₂e per pupil, reflecting shorter journeys and better access to public and active travel.
 

Under the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, which includes a target 50% reduction in schools’ carbon footprint by 2032, all schools in England were expected to have a Climate Action Plan in place by 2025. These plans must set out how schools will reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, promote sustainable travel, adapt to climate risks and make more sustainable procurement choices.

What the findings mean for schools

Schools are increasingly expected to take practical, measurable steps to reduce their environmental impact. The report shows that:

The school run is the single biggest source of emissions in England’s schools overall
Pupil commuting produces more carbon than electricity use and any other single category.

Take action: host active travel weeks, introduce reward schemes for walking or wheeling and install secure bike storage.

Transport must be part of every school’s Climate Action Plan
With transport accounting for 40% of total emissions, schools will need to work with families and local authorities on safer, lower-carbon travel options.

Take action: staff commuting also contributes significantly at an average of 12% of a school’s total footprint, so encourage staff to car-pool or introduce a salary sacrifice scheme to promote use of electric vehicles.

Food choices matter more than many schools realise
Hot school dinners account for around 16% of emissions and are the leading emissions source for primary schools. Menu changes can deliver rapid, visible reductions.

Take action: Encourage more plant-based eating by making plant-based menu items more appealing, increasing the vegetable content in mixed dishes, and introducing regular days when only plant-based meals are offered.

Energy efficiency remains important
Only 15% of schools purchase 100% renewable electricity, despite electricity accounting for 11% of emissions.

Take action: Reducing energy use through behaviour change and building efficiency is important, but one of the quickest and most impactful steps is switching to a renewable electricity contract, which cuts emissions significantly without requiring major infrastructure changes.

Schools need clear data to prioritise action
Count Your Carbon offers the sector a practical way to understand its full footprint, including Scope 3 emissions, and to build action plans that meet DfE expectations.

Take action: Every school’s circumstances differ, but Count Your Carbon’s action-planning resources – featuring nearly 70 practical recommendations – enable schools to choose the right actions for them, making meaningful emission reductions achievable.

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive at Keep Britain Tidy said: “Our inaugural Count Your Carbon report shows that schools have an extraordinary opportunity to lead on climate action through everyday changes that pupils can engage with directly. Schools often prioritise recycling, but to meaningfully address climate change they must focus more on transport, energy use and purchasing decisions.

“We’re urging every school to sign up to our free Count Your Carbon tool to empower them to cut emissions and protect their pupils’ futures. The tool simplifies complex data into clear, practical actions for schools and families. When young people see how their travel, meals and school environment affect the climate, they become powerful advocates for change.”

Matthew Hill, deputy chief financial officer and sustainability lead at Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust, said: “We started using Count Your Carbon because we wanted a practical way to measure and understand our environmental impact across the trust. The tool offers us a clear, data-driven approach that aligns with our Climate Action Plan and helps engage our schools in meaningful sustainability work. The biggest surprise was how much of our footprint came from areas we hadn’t considered, such as travel. Reducing emissions isn’t just about buildings, it’s about the daily choices a school makes. The tool has helped to make sustainability part of everyday conversation across the trust.”

Louise Bostock, facilities manager at St Richards RC Primary in Manchester said: “When we looked at our Count Your Carbon data, we were surprised at the number of children who came to school in cars, especially as they live locally – some only five minutes away. As a result, we are now encouraging more parents and children to walk, through a school-wide challenge. Using Count Your Carbon has improved our whole school’s awareness, it’s a really interactive tool for the children and is a great starting point for any school wanting to take climate action.” 

Schools can register and begin measuring their footprint today at www.countyourcarbon.org.

Key statistics from the Count Your Carbon 2025 report

Transport

Transport-related activities account for approximately 40% of emissions

Student commuting alone accounts for approximately 21%

42% of pupils travel by car; 9% use public transport

Energy

Energy use (fuel + electricity) represents around 27% of emissions

Electricity accounts for 11% of emissions

Fuel use accounts for 16% of emissions

87% of schools rely on natural gas for heating

Scope 3 emissions dominate

Making up 72% of school carbon footprints including commuting, food, purchases,

school trips, waste, and water

Food

Hot school dinners account for 16% of emissions

Food procurement and preparation for hot school dinners = 16% of total emissions
Meal composition: 73% omnivorous; 23% vegetarian and 4% fully plant-based

Procurement

Procurement accounts for 16% of emissions

Location

Rural schools emit nearly 1 tCO₂ per pupil annually

Urban schools emit an average of 0.81 tCO₂e per pupil annually

Typical secondary school emits 1,031 tCO₂e per year

The average primary school emits 204 tCO₂e per year

East London Waste Authority (ELWA) is inviting local artists, makers, and creative organisations to submit proposals for a bold, engaging, and educational public installation. The aim of the installation will be to ‘power up’ East London residents and encourage them to recycle their small electricals and batteries at dedicated recycling points, and never put them in any bin at home.

Lithium-ion batteries hidden inside small electrical devices, such as vapes, ear pods, e-scooters, or children’s toys, can set fire when compacted in waste collection vehicles and facilities. These kinds of fires have been increasing nationwide, prompting an urgent need for more awareness of the issue amongst the public.

The selected designer will be commissioned by ELWA to create an eye-catching installation, which will tour the boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge in 2026.

The new initiative sees ELWA join forces with Recycle Your Electricals ’ “Stop Battery Fires” campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of incorrectly disposing of electricals and hidden lithium-ion batteries. This follows the success of ELWA’s Battery Recycling Roadshow campaign in February 2025, which saw over 1000 people interacting with the engagement team at busy venues across East London.

Artists and creators interested in finding out more about the brief should visit www.eastlondonwaste.gov.uk/batteries. The installation should stand out from the crowd, spark curiosity, and deliver a clear message about electrical recycling.

Interested applicants must submit their proposal by 9am on Monday 9th February 2026. Delivery will be required by June 2026. Email any questions to campaigns@eastlondonwaste.gov.uk

Councillor Miraj Patel, Chair of ELWA said “Battery fires in bin lorries and waste sites remain a challenge across all local authorities. There were 229 fires in ELWA’s waste facilities last year, a 57% increase over the previous year. These fires cost the waste industry millions of pounds each year, but also pose a significant risk to frontline staff collecting and treating waste.

The public can play a really important role in helping stamp out this issue by disposing of batteries and electrical items correctly. We want to use art to engage and shift recycling habits in communities across East London, and I’m really excited to see what our brilliant creative community can come up with.”

Scott Butler, Executive Director, Material Focus, the non-profit leading the Recycle Your Electricals campaign said: “With more and more products containing lithium-ion batteries, and battery fires on the rise, it’s vital that we stop these fires and reduce the air pollution impact that they have on our local communities and the dangers they present to fire fighters and waste officers. This project is a fantastic way to make sure that everyone knows to never bin and always recycle their electricals and their batteries. Just search recycle your electricals to find your nearest drop off point.”

Keep Britain Tidy urges the nation to ‘mend, not spend’ this January

Despite the cost-of-living crisis, Brits are throwing away millions of items of clothing that could be saved with a few simple stitches, according to new research from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy to mark the start of Buy Nothing New Month (1-31 January 2026).

Key findings include:

More than half of UK adults (52%) admit they have binned repairable clothing in the past year, rising to almost two thirds (60%) of 18–24-year-olds

Shockingly 3% – equivalent to 2.1 million* people – threw away more than ten repairable garments in the past year, collectively sending more than 20 million items of clothing to landfill

Only half of Brits (50%) would bother to fix an item that needed a minor repair themself, such as a missing button. Nearly a third would recycle the item (30%) and almost 1 in 7 (13%) would simply throw it in the rubbish bin.

The YouGov study of over 2,000 adults revealed a wide generational repair gap. Only 14% of 18–24-year-olds always repair their damaged clothes – compared to 41% of over 55s – and only a third of young adults (33%) feel very confident in tackling basic repairs such as sewing on a button, compared with 77% of older adults (55+).

In response to the findings, Keep Britain Tidy is urging Brits to take part in Buy Nothing New Month this January. The charity is encouraging the nation to ‘mend, not spend’ and embrace ‘Mendfulness’ – taking joy and pride in repairing items as a practical, calming and creative alternative to buying new. With 58% of people worrying about having enough storage space at home and more than a third feeling overwhelmed by their belongings, January is the ideal time to sign up to the challenge to resist the lure of the sales and learn a valuable new skill.

Dr. Anna Scott, Director of Services at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “The findings expose how far fast fashion and convenience culture have overtaken basic repair skills. Despite the cost-of-living crisis, millions of items that could be fixed in a matter of minutes are being thrown away, contributing to our growing clothing waste crisis. With two thirds of young people feeling guilty about the amount of clothing they throw away and over three quarters keen to learn repair skills to be able to ‘stitch rather than ditch’ their own garments, there’s hope that this worrying trend can be reversed.

“This January we’re inviting people to join Buy Nothing New Month, spend less and rediscover the satisfaction of making things last. By mending clothes, borrowing, swapping, buying second-hand or simply pausing new purchases, people can save money, reduce waste and rediscover valuable lost skills.”

Slow Stitch Club owner Skye Pennant, who runs visible mending workshops, said “Clothing repair has become a creative outlet for so many over the last few years and visible mending has really encouraged that. By choosing to mend our clothes in a visible way, we get to show off a new skill and turn our clothes into a wearable scrapbook that makes them unique to us. By drawing attention to the fact that we are choosing to keep and mend our clothes, we are actively showing the big clothing companies that we don’t want more stuff; we value the clothing we already own.

“Buy Nothing New Month is a great place to start if you’re looking to reconnect with your wardrobe and spend some time learning a new skill. Remember, mended is better than perfect and your visible mending is unique to you and your well-loved clothes.”

About Buy Nothing New Month (1 – 31 January 2026)

How to get involved

Sign up now at www.keepbritaintidy.org/ and join thousands of others ready to save money, reduce waste and live lighter in 2026. Follow @keepbritaintidy on Instagram for tips and inspiration throughout the month and share your journey on social media to encourage and inspire others.

Why take part?

Save money: Resisting the lure of the sales and avoiding making impulse purchases could save you hundreds in January and get your bank balance back on track

Try something new: January is a time for embracing new hobbies and learning new skills. Take on the challenge of repairing clothes instead of discarding them, upcycle household items or experiment with second-hand fashion.

Live more sustainably: Every new item you buy has an environmental price tag, from the carbon emitted during production to the water and energy used in manufacturing and transportation. Getting into the habit of buying less helps to reduce waste and conserve resources.

The brief

Oceana UK asked Barley to deliver a high-profile environmental report launch for Deep Decline, a major new report examining the scale and consequences of overfishing in UK waters. The objective was to secure widespread national, regional and international media coverage that communicated complex scientific findings clearly, influenced policymakers, and strengthened calls for evidence-based government action to rebuild fish populations.

The launch needed to achieve cut-through in a crowded news environment while maintaining scientific credibility and reaching audiences ranging from decision-makers and industry to the general public.

Insights and approach

We developed a three-pronged media strategy designed to maximise reach, authority and impact for the environmental report launch.

First, we warmed up priority national, broadcast, trade and specialist media through early outreach, briefing key journalists on the report’s findings and release timeline. This allowed us to secure interest ahead of launch and prepare spokespeople for in-depth interviews.

Second, we strengthened the campaign’s thought leadership by drafting and placing an op-ed by Professor Callum Roberts, reinforcing the scientific credibility of the report and positioning Oceana UK as a trusted voice on ocean health and fisheries management.

Finally, we delivered a coordinated embargoed sell-in, including early engagement with Press Association and broadcast outlets, supported by a comprehensive online press kit featuring imagery, spokespeople profiles and clear key messages. Access to a broad range of Oceana UK spokespeople enabled tailored pitching across national news, regional media, international outlets and specialist trade titles.Throughout the campaign, we focused on disciplined message delivery — following the science and calling on government to act — while making the findings accessible through clear consumer and real-world framing.

Results

The launch achieved extensive national, regional and international coverage, ensuring Deep Decline reached policymakers, industry and the public at scale. Early engagement resulted in stand-alone coverage in leading national titles, while Press Association syndication significantly amplified the report’s findings across the UK.

Broadcast interviews and radio coverage extended reach beyond print and online audiences, while international news wire coverage positioned the report within the global debate on ocean health. Strong pick-up in marine trade, sustainability and scientific titles reinforced Oceana UK’s authority among specialist audiences.Crucially, government response was included within coverage, demonstrating that the campaign successfully reached decision-makers and strengthened Oceana UK’s call for evidence-based action to rebuild fish stocks.

The Big Ballot Bin ™ throws leisure sector a playful alternative

An innovative bin, that went viral when it was trialled in 2023, launches today by environmental charity Hubbub. The Big Ballot Bin™ will help venues transform litter management into a playful and shareable experience by inviting people to vote with their rubbish. This bold new approach to litter prevention not only got the nation talking when it was trialled in partnership with KFC, but it slashed litter by 70%.

Whether the question is Who should have won? Traitors or Faithfuls, or who will get Christmas number 1 “K-Pop Demon Hunters or Wham?” these bins capture attention and spark conversation, while quietly delivering massive cuts to waste and clean-up costs.

Crucially, the Big Ballot Bin™ is designed as a customisable brand asset. Operators can integrate the bin into their guest experience by adding branding, bespoke colours, and campaign messaging, to turn litter collection into a marketing tool that strengthens their brand experience.

Litter costs the UK over £1 billion a year to clean up*, and it’s one of the most visible indicators of poor visitor experience. Traditional methods are failing to tackle it.

Alex Robinson, CEO at Hubbub, said: “The Big Ballot Bin™ shows what happens when you make the right choice the fun choice. Traditional enforcement often fails to change behaviour, but when you invite people to take part in something playful and topical, littering drops dramatically. We’ve seen how curiosity, conversation and competition can transform a simple act like binning rubbish into a moment people enjoy and remember. For venues and destinations, it’s proof that positive engagement can deliver real environmental impact.”

Behind the fun exterior sits smart technology. Each bin comes equipped with a remote tracking system that allows operators to monitor the vote count and collect valuable data for ESG and CSR reporting. The plug-and-play design ensures reliability both indoors and outdoors, while a 240-litre capacity makes it ideal for busy shopping centres, theme parks and stadiums.

The Big Ballot Bin™ has been trialled successfully on UK high streets through an eight-week pilot with KFC, Manchester City Council and Southampton City Council. The results showed that litter was dramatically reduced within 20 metres of each bin, with drinks litter down 70% and food litter down 60%, while the bin’s capture radius was 2.5 times larger than standard bins.

The pilot also got people talking and sharing the bins on social media, reaching 10 million people organically**. According to Manchester City Council, “people were actively seeking them out”.

Hubbub is now inviting organisations across the leisure, hospitality, and attractions sectors to become early adopters. Partners will benefit from preferential pricing and access to a full support package, including full creative customisation (branding, colours, and messaging), access to the smart tracker, and communications collaboration.

Alex added: “When we first trialled the Big Ballot Bin™, we were blown away by how much attention they received – they really got people talking and we had fun creating voting options that tapped into current trends and discussions. We’re thrilled to now bring this product to market and we look forward seeing our future customers create memorable experiences for visitors and be part of a nationwide movement to tackle litter in smarter ways.”

This innovation builds on the success of Hubbub’s original Ballot Bin™, the world’s first voting ashtray launched in 2015. Now found in over 5,000 locations across 43 countries, the Ballot Bin™ has collected more than 15 million cigarette butts and won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. The Big Ballot Bin™ takes these proven principles and scales them up for general litter – delivering the same mix of visibility, fun and effectiveness.

To find out more about the Big Ballot Bin™ or to pre-order a bin, visit www.ballotbin.co.uk

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy today launches Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight, a national campaign urging the public to protect themselves and their communities from waste criminals, who lure people in with cheap rubbish removal deals on social media, only to illegally dump household waste in our streets, fields and public spaces.

New consumer research reveals that households are unknowingly fuelling the problem by failing to carry out basic checks when hiring someone to collect their rubbish.

According to the YouGov survey, less than half of respondents (46%) were aware they should check for a licence when hiring someone to take away rubbish and of those who were aware, only 13% have ever done so. Almost half (42%) of those who considered hiring someone to remove waste said they simply ‘trusted’ an operator based on their advert, while 19% said they used someone because they were recommended without checking their credentials

Meanwhile, the problem of fly-tipping is escalating rapidly. According to new research carried out by the charity with local authorities, almost three quarters (70%) say fly-tipping is now a ‘major problem’, more than half (56%) report that the issue has grown in the past year and a staggering 40% of fly-tips are now reported to be left by rogue traders rather than individuals.

Nationally, more than 1.15 million fly-tipping incidents were reported in 2023-24 by councils. With estimated costs to landowners and council tax-payers ranging from £100 million to £150 million for clearance and investigation, fly-tipping diverts significant funds away from vital services like schools, social care and parks.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight campaign aims to educate people about how to avoid falling for a #RubbishDeal. Featuring real-life CCTV footage supplied by local authorities, the campaign exposes rogue ‘house clearance’ merchants being caught in the act of dumping large quantities of household rubbish in fields, alleyways and lay-bys.

Keep Britain Tidy is urging anyone getting rid of stuff they no longer want to take three simple steps to avoid falling for a #RubbishDeal that leaves them, their community and their council paying the price.

Ask for a waste carrier registration number
Check it on the Environment Agency’s public register at (visit https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers or call 0300 065 3000)
Check you’ll get a receipt

Dr. Anna Scott, Director of Services at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Fly-tipping is a #RubbishDeal for all of us. For the public, for councils, for communities and for the environment. That cheap deal on Facebook or WhatsApp may look like a bargain, but it’s a false economy and it’s you and your community that end up paying the price.

“Fly-tipping isn’t just unsightly, it’s often linked to organised criminal networks making millions of pounds by exploiting gaps in enforcement and undercutting legitimate businesses. It’s a serious criminal offence, and we all have a part to play in stopping it. People need to know that they are responsible for what happens to their own waste, even if they’ve hired someone else to take it away. By doing simple checks and getting a receipt, people can protect themselves, protect their neighbourhoods and ensure public money does not have to spent on clearing up after criminals.”

Further findings of the consumer poll include:

Worsening community impact: More than a third of people (38%) say fly-tipping has increased in the past year and 61% say they feel angry when they see people’s old stuff dumped in their local area
Out of sight, out of mind. Only 1 in 3 (34%) would ask for a receipt or proof of the service when paying someone to remove their rubbish, and less than a quarter (23%) would check where items will be taken and how they will be disposed of.
Confusion over legal ‘duty of care’: Almost half of households (47%) believe the person they hired is responsible if rubbish is dumped illegally, while only one in five (19%) correctly understand that they remain legally responsible as the owner of the items.
Strong support for solutions: 86% of people said they would back schemes requiring retailers to collect old bulky items like sofas or mattresses when delivering new ones, helping to cut fly-tipping at the source.

Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight will run nationwide from 10^th– 23rd November, with local authorities across the country joining forces with Keep Britain Tidy to shine a spotlight on waste crime and share practical advice to help consumers avoid a #RubbishDeal.

To find out more, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org/fight-fly-tipping

Love Where You Live Heckmondwike campaign urges local dog owners to tackle hotspots and keep the town clean, green and proud

Local people in Heckmondwike have spoken out about the problem of dog poo blighting their streets and parks ahead of an activation by Keep Britain Tidy. The Love Where You Live Heckmondwike campaign is calling on dog owners to sign the Poo Promise, a pledge to always pick up after their pets, helping to tackle local hotspots and restore pride in the town.

With one in three residents (35%) saying unbagged dog poo is a problem in their area, and more than a quarter (27%) also concerned about bagged poo being left behind, the scale of the problem is clear. Keep Britain Tidy has identified the town’s hotspots for the issue, which includes places near schools and recreation grounds – where children, families and vulnerable residents should feel safe.

Heckmondwike resident, Sue, said, “I often see dog poo on the Greenway, or just the bags that people have discarded in the hedgerows or on the footpath. It’s SO lazy and unnecessary”. Fellow local, Anna added, “I see it on every walk, unfortunately. There is no excuse to not pick it up, or to pick it up and throw the bag where it does not belong. It’s not only a nuisance, it is a health risk to humans, wildlife and pets”.

Despite being unpleasant and antisocial, myths persist and some believe that leaving dog poo is ok if it’s out of the way of a public path or that it can be good for the ecosystem and that it washes away in the rain. However, the reality is that it lingers, contaminates soil, pollutes waterways and can spread harmful diseases among humans and wildlife.

Every day in the UK, more than 13.5 million dogs produce at least 1,500 tonnes of waste. Left behind, this waste poses real health risks, including toxocariasis, which can cause serious illness and, in rare cases, blindness.

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Love Where You Live Heckmondwike is about restoring local pride. Together, our small actions can make a big impact. We want everyone to feel proud to live here, and dog owners can play their part simply by picking up after their pets. The message is simple: there’s no excuse for leaving dog poo behind. We want to make Heckmondwike’s streets and green spaces clean, safe and welcoming for everyone. We’re reminding dog owners, there’s no such thing as the poo fairy, and asking them to sign our Poo Promise to pick up after their pups.”

By signing the Poo Promise, dog owners are showing they care about their neighbours, their community and the places everyone in Heckmondwike shares. The promise can be signed online at: keepbritaintidy.org/poopromise

New Oceana UK report shows half of UK’s top ten fish stocks are critically low, being overexploited, or both.
One in six of all UK stocks are in a critical condition yet still being fished beyond safe limits, risking their total collapse.
Oceana UK calls for the government to put in place a strategy to end overfishing, including a legally binding deadline and catch limits that will rebuild fish populations.

Oceana UK warns today that the government’s failure to follow the science on catch limits and set a clear plan to end overfishing has pushed many of the UK’s most important fish populations towards collapse.

In one of the most comprehensive analyses of fish stocks since Brexit, Oceana UK’s Deep Decline report reveals that half of the ‘top 10’ commercial fish stocks on which UK fishers rely ^[1] – including North Sea cod, North Sea herring, North East Atlantic mackerel and Southern North Sea edible crab – are in a critical condition, currently being overexploited, or both.

North Sea cod was found to be critically low yet still being overexploited. Last month, the international body providing scientific evidence for fish catch regulation – the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) – advised that the state of crisis is such that zero catch is needed to safeguard the future of the cod fishery.

Despite repeated warnings from scientists, ministers continue to set ‘total allowable catches’ for many stocks above sustainable levels, risking the collapse of these populations and threatening the livelihoods of coastal communities and the health of UK seas.

Key findings from Oceana UK’s new report

– Half of the UK’s ‘top ten’ fish stocks are in a critical state, being overexploited, or both.

– One sixth of all UK commercial stocks are critically depleted yet continue to be overexploited, putting them in imminent danger of collapse.

– Over a quarter of all UK commercial stocks are critically low, and a quarter are currently being overexploited.

– Scientific advice ignored: Catch limits for many stocks, including all five worst-performing populations, exceeded safe catch levels in 2025.

Oceana UK’s report examined the UK’s commercial fish stocks and found that only 41% are confirmed to be in a healthy state. Over a quarter (27%) are critically low, while 25% are currently being overexploited. Alarmingly, around one in six stocks are both critically low yet still being overexploited – like North Sea cod – putting them on a trajectory towards collapse and threatening livelihoods in fishing communities along with the UK’s internationally important marine wildlife.

Hugo Tagholm, Executive Director of Oceana UK, said:

“Overfishing is not an unavoidable tragedy – it is a political choice. Ministers ignore the science time and time again and our seas are paying the price. Five years after becoming an independent coastal state, the UK seems to have accepted a state of relentless decline. Where is the legal accountability for this failure?

We urgently need a plan to end overfishing, one that follows the science and puts our seas on a long-term path to recovery – ensuring a new generation of coastal prosperity. But this requires leadership. Ministers must act now to redefine the future of fishing, so that those that fish in harmony with nature are prioritised over those that devastate our seabed and empty our seas.”

The report also shows that recovery is possible when political decisions follow the science. The UK’s best-performing stocks — including West of Scotland haddock, Western Channel sole and North Sea plaice — have remained healthy and sustainably fished since 2020, in large part thanks to catch limits set in line with scientific advice. These cases prove that sustainable management benefits both the environment and the economy.

In stark contrast, catch limits for three of the five worst-performing stocks have been set above scientific advice for five consecutive years. Not once since the current ‘total allowable catch’ system began have even half of UK catch limits been aligned with scientific advice, according to the UK Government’s own fisheries advisers.

Professor Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine Conservation at the University of Exeter, said: “These results highlight the gross mismanagement of the UK’s greatest natural asset – its seas. The government has the best fisheries science at its fingertips, and even when data are scarce, the course to restoration is clear. Our seas are already at risk from oil, sewage and agri-chemical pollution; habitat destruction; and the climate crisis. We need to move away from brute extraction, regardless of collateral damage and set a new course to make fishing fair, evidence-based and above all sustainable, so that it works within nature’s limits.”

Clive Mills, Sussex fisherman, said: “We don’t have another 10 years, I promise you that now. I have seen it since I was a young lad out on the boats, I’m now 66, and I can tell you we are on the edge of a precipice. We’re taking too much, too fast. If fishermen are going to be true to themselves, we’ve got to stop. Fifty years ago, when they brought in fish quotas, we asked ‘what are those for?’. To protect the future of fishing, we were told. And we all thought, that would be good, we need a future for fishing. But we haven’t stayed that course, and now here we are. It’s got to stop.”

Edward Baker, CEO Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association said: “We need healthy seas to have a healthy fishing industry, and recognition by government of the need for prioritised fishing opportunities for sustainable local fisheries. If the science says slow down, we should listen — because without fish, there’s no future for our boats or our communities. But we need government to support the industry, if changes are needed to allow stocks to recover then fishermen need support from government to ensure their livelihoods (either via diversification or other means) so that we still have fishermen to provide for the UK’s food security.”

The report also highlights severe regional disparities. The Irish Sea is the worst affected, with overfished stocks rising from 27% in 2020 to 41% today, while the Celtic Sea faces similar risks, with one-third of stocks overfished to critically low population sizes, and many more overexploited. In fact, the 2024 quota for Celtic Sea cod actually exceeded the estimated number of adult fish left.

In contrast, the West of Scotland remains the healthiest region, with 62% of stocks assessed as healthy and only 12% overfished.

The UK has no overarching recovery plan or legally binding timeframe to end overfishing. Oceana UK is urging the UK Government and devolved administrations to:

1) Urgently deliver a strategy to end overfishing by the end of 2026.

2) Put in place a legal deadline to rebuild fish stocks that holds government accountable.

3) Set all catch limits in line with the science by the end of 2025.

4) Publish an annual Parliament-scrutinised audit.

5) Ensure a fair deal for fishers needing support to adjust to lower catch limits and sustainable practices.

Oceana is also encouraging the public to join the fight to end overfishing and write to the Prime Minister, Environment Secretary, and their local MPs demanding that the government follows scientific advice on catch limits and introduces a legally binding deadline to end overfishing.

Oceana UK is a non-profit organisation focused on protecting and restoring UK seas.

^[1] Top 10 stocks calculated by volume of landings.

£100k grant helps launch new digital inclusion network and boost community donations

An Oxfordshire charity has rehomed more than 1,400 refurbished devices to people who need them, despite being hit by severe flooding late last year.

SOFEA, based in Didcot, was awarded a £100,000 grant from the Time After Time fund, created by Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity, Hubbub, to give unwanted tech a second life and tackle digital exclusion.

Working with partners Aspire and Bicester Green, SOFEA received more than 2,200 donated devices, with more than half (56%) coming directly from Oxfordshire residents. The rest came from businesses and public sector bodies, including Oxfordshire County Council, Instron, Pharmagenesis and FareShare. After securely data wiping, repair and safety checks, more than 1,400 devices were redistributed with people who need them.

The funding has also enabled SOFEA to launch a new digital inclusion network, designed to coordinate digital support and share resources across communities in Oxfordshire. Through regular meetings and newsletters, local organisations are working together to understand where there are requirements that aren’t being met and collaborating to support those who need it.

Ben Tuppen, Getting Oxfordshire Online Project Manager at SOFEA, said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in challenging circumstances. Thanks to local donations and support, we’ve been able to help people across Oxfordshire get connected and build vital digital skills. Now we’re calling on even more residents and businesses to dig out their old devices and to take them to any of our donation points across the county so we can give them a second life.”

SOFEA has now settled back into its main base in Didcot and opened a new device repair space, inviting locals to donate working, unused IT equipment.

Gavin Ellis, Director and Co-Founder of Hubbub, said: “SOFEA’s story shows the power of community action. By repairing and redistributing old devices, they’ve not only kept working tech in use for longer but also given people the tools they need to get online and stay connected. It’s striking two birds with one phone!”

Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Virgin Media O2, added: “SOFEA has shown incredible resilience, turning old devices into vital lifelines for people across Oxfordshire. We’re proud to support their work through Virgin Media O2’s Time After Time fund, which is tackling e-waste and helping connect people across the county.”

The Time After Time Fund was set up in 2022 by Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub in response to the UK’s e-waste crisis which sees the country producing more electrical waste per person than any other country in the world (except for Norway)¹. The fund forms part of Virgin Media O2’s sustainability strategy, the Better Connections Plan, and is helping the company achieve its goals of supporting people to carry out 10 million ‘circular actions’ to tackle e-waste, and to connect 1 million digitally excluded people across the UK through free and affordable connectivity and services by the end of 2025. To date, £1 million has been distributed across community projects nationwide, supporting digital inclusion while helping the environment. For more information, click here.

Keep Britain Tidy’s latest initiative sees 41% drop in littering behaviour

Have you ever left a newspaper on a public bench or an empty coffee cup at a bus stop? According to new research by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, more than one in four people (26%) in Heckmondwike admit to this behaviour – known as ‘careful littering’. But the message is simple: It’s still littering.

Now, as part of the Love Where You Live Heckmondwike campaign – a community-led effort to tackle litter and restore local pride – Keep Britain Tidy is challenging residents to rethink what littering looks like. And already, a 41% reduction in littering in areas running the ‘still littering’ behavior change intervention has been recorded in Heckmondwike since the campaign began.

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “You might think you’re doing the right thing or think it’s harmless to leave a bit of packaging neatly on a ledge or bench – after all you didn’t throw it on the ground. But it’s littering all the same and the damage is real.

“Litter not only wrecks the environment, but it also undermines our sense of pride, affects our mental wellbeing, makes us all feel unsafe and lowers property values. With Love Where You Live Heckmondwike and the effective initiatives across the town, we’re seeing that by working together, small changes in behaviour can make a big difference to everyone. Let’s keep that momentum going, don’t place litter anywhere and love where you live.”

A community on a mission

A recent local survey found more than a third (37%*) of Heckmondwike residents do not feel proud to live in the area, and national research by Keep Britain Tidy has shown that living in a heavily littered area can have a negative impact on our mental health*.

But there’s hope. Nearly half (44%) agree that people in the area are willing to work together to make a difference to the way the areas looks. Throughout the campaign, Heckmondwike will see:

School-led clean-up events
Litter-picking days
Business partnerships to keep public areas clean
Tackling of persistent problems such as dog mess, fly-tipping, and cigarette litter

The campaign is a pilot for best-practice litter reduction, with findings intended to shape recommendations for litter reduction efforts across the UK.

Litter reductions as a result of the interventions placed in Heckmondwike are being closely monitored by Kirklees Council, who are working closely with Keep Britain Tidy on the project.

Councillor Amanda Pinnock, Cabinet Member for Communities and Environment at Kirklees Council said:“Unfortunately littering has become a real issue in our communities and changing people’s behaviour about this is a really important part of our wider ambition to have a cleaner and greener Kirklees for everyone. Through our partnership with Keep Britain Tidy, this project in Heckmondwike aims to highlight how even the smallest and unintentional actions can still count as littering. By changing people’s behaviour about littering, we can have cleaner towns and greenspaces to enjoy for longer.”

Love Where You Live Heckmondwike is part of the Litter Pact project by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, with support from Kirklees Council, and leading food and drinks brands Coca-Cola, KFC, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s and Nestlé with the aim of investing in research and programmes to reduce litter. The campaign is being closely watched as a test model for broader adoption across the UK.

• MP Kim Leadbeater presents cheque to Rainbow Baby Bank in Heckmondwike
• Residents raise funds by binning litter as part of Keep Britain Tidy initiative

The simple act of binning litter in Heckmondwike’s Market Square has raised £500 for a vital local baby charity, and it’s just the start of a community-wide campaign from Keep Britain Tidy bringing pride back to the town centre.

Part of the wider Love Where You Live: Heckmondwike initiative, which is inviting residents and businesses to reconnect with their community and play a part in making their environment cleaner, greener and more cared for, Bin it For Good sees good causes rewarded for local people’s responsible litter disposal. The first month of the campaign has seen an incredible 52% reduction in litter on the ground.

The more rubbish correctly disposed of in Market Square’s new smart bins, the higher the donation to a local charity — up to £500 per month. Rainbow Baby Bank is the first of three much-loved local charities, all nominated and voted for by Heckmondwike residents, which will benefit from the initiative. The more that locals and visitors bin their litter, the more money the charities will receive.

On presenting the cheque, Kim Leadbeater MBE, Labour MP for Spen Valley, said: “I’m thrilled to be able to present this donation. It’s inspiring to see such a simple idea making a big difference, both in keeping Heckmondwike cleaner and supporting brilliant local causes.”

Rainbow Baby Bank is a registered charity based in the heart of Heckmondwike town centre which helps disadvantaged families, both locally and across Kirklees, with new and pre-loved baby essentials.

Samantha Cottam, Rainbow Baby Bank Manager, said: “We all want to see a cleaner, tidier Heckmondwike and we’re doing this together by supporting this fantastic initiative. The money that has been raised, by simply disposing of rubbish, will make a huge difference to our charity. The number of families needing our help has increased dramatically due to the cost of living crisis. Small charities, like ours, need your support more than ever.”

Residents are encouraged to keep binning their litter in Market Square, with donations now supporting Brighter Grays and, from August, food bank Magic Wishing Well.

A spokesperson for Brighter Grays said: “We are very passionate about Heckmondwike as this is where our groups first began and where our office is now based. It feels like home to us! The ‘Bin it for good’ project is a fantastic idea which both means people re playing a part in keeping Heckmondwike tidy and also supporting Brighter Grays, ensuring we can continue to provide our much-needed service.”

Bin it for Good is the first of a year-long initiative inviting the local people of Heckmondwike to reconnect with their community and play a part in making their environment cleaner, greener and more cared for.

Love Where You Live Heckmondwike is part of the Litter Pact project by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, with support from Kirklees Council, and leading food and drinks brands Coca-Cola, KFC, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s and Nestlé with the aim of investing in research and programmes to reduce litter. The campaign is being closely watched as a test model for broader adoption across the UK.

The brief

The UK generates some of the highest levels of electronic waste in the world, with millions of unused devices sitting idle in homes. Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity Hubbub launched the Time After Time fund to spark practical behaviour change around tech repair, reuse and recycling, while also tackling digital exclusion. Barley was asked to raise national and local awareness of the fund and its community projects, drive participation and encourage people to take tangible action on e-waste.

Insights and approach

Our insight was clear: e-waste feels abstract until it becomes a local story. Communities needed to see the social and personal value of reuse — not just the environmental case.

We developed a targeted media-relations strategy rooted in real-world stories from the 18 funded projects. By tailoring press releases for regional outlets and elevating compelling human narratives — such as neurodivergent volunteers gaining new skills, or a refugee accessing education with a refurbished laptop — we created emotional connection and relevance.

Our outreach combined regional amplification with national and trade engagement, ensuring strong visibility for the fund’s impact and opportunities for public involvement. Close collaboration with project partners helped surface authentic case studies and barriers to participation, enabling us to frame repair and reuse as achievable, beneficial actions.

Our focused approach ensured every story worked hard to inspire change and spotlight the fund’s contribution to both environmental sustainability and digital inclusion.

Results

he campaign successfully shifted awareness of e-waste from a niche environmental topic to an issue with deep community relevance. Engagement was strong, with thousands taking practical steps such as donating unused tech or repairing devices — directly supporting the fund’s aims of reducing waste and increasing access to digital opportunities.

Projects reported immediate surges in device donations following media coverage, and several initiatives expanded their teams to create inclusive training and employment opportunities. By linking environmental action to skills, education and community support, the campaign delivered meaningful, lasting behaviour change.

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