On Saturday night, my husband and I were walking home through Acton when we passed someone polishing off the last bites of a meal. Without hesitation, they placed the empty plate, cutlery and all, on the pavement and climbed into their still-running van.
“Are you done with that?” I asked.
With a smirk, they replied, “I’m helping nature. Feeding the foxes!” They laughed, slammed the door, and sped off.
I stood there, red-faced and powerless. When faced with the culprit, what’s the right approach? Quietly fix the mess, or challenge the behaviour and hope shame sparks change? People in Acton, myself included, pick up litter every day, not because we enjoy it, but because we refuse to live surrounded by rubbish.
I joined the Litter Action Group for Ealing Residents (LAGER Can) after spotting a woman in plain clothes collecting litter in Acton Park. She invited me into the community and the next day I was handed a litter picker and a roll of rubbish sacks.
LAGER Can is a volunteer community founded in 2017 that has since grown to over 2,000 members. Their mission is important: make the London Borough of Ealing’s open spaces cleaner and greener, its the power of local action.
In Greenford, Volunteers Take Action
That same question recently unfolded in Greenford. In Blacklands, a patch of Ealing Council-owned land bordering Paradise Fields, a huge pile of illegally dumped rubbish had accumulated, and was reported to LAGER Can.
Over the years knives, guns, machetes, even a canoe have been found around the borough, but this was the first major fly-tip reported to LAGER Can near the Greenford Road steps.
Rumours circulated: Was it boaters from the Grand Union Canal? People fly-tipping from passing cars? Both? Cathy Swift, Chair of LAGER Can acted as soon as the problem was reported. She organised a Saturday morning event in September where eight volunteers cleared over 100 bags of rubbish in 90 minutes.
“The philosophy of our members is that it’s better for our mental health to be part of the solution rather than just complain about it.” —Cathy Swift, Chair of LAGER Can
Bins and Posters Are Not Enough
There are no bins in that area, but Cathy believes bins here wouldn’t have stopped the fly-tipping. There are no signs either but whoever dumped this waste knew it was illegal. The issue runs deeper.
Residents and volunteers believe real change requires:
- Better access to waste disposal for those without facilities
- Education around leaving rubbish beside a bin is still fly-tipping
- Easier reporting tools for those who witness dumping
When Resources Are Tight, Community Steps Up
LAGER Can works closely with Ealing Council, who do what they can, but resources are stretched, and volunteers often fill the gap with the power of local action.
For this group, action is the antidote to despair. They choose to be part of the solution. Councillor Amarjit Jammu was one of the volunteers who joined the event as well. Perhaps by seeing their example, someone else will think twice before leaving rubbish behind or better yet, pick some up.
“Feeling exceptionally proud to be living in a Borough where there are so many residents who care about their environment.” —Councillor Amarjit Jammu
Will that person I challenged about their empty plate think differently next time? Maybe. Probably not. But I believe it’s better to take action than stay silent.
If there’s rubbish in your community, reach out to LAGER Can. They’ll help set up a cleanup because keeping Ealing clean isn’t someone else’s responsibility.
It’s everyone’s.
Written by Mia Alberro, a freelance writer passionate about understanding human behaviour to drive positive change for a more sustainable future.
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