The Great British Spring Clean starts on March 15 and as usual, the council and residents across the borough will be out supporting it, helping to clean up our town.
I know loads of you already do your bit and carry out community litterpicks, and I thank you for it.
It would be great if even more people got involved this year. Find out more by going to the Keep Britain Tidy website.
I know making sure the borough is clean and green is important to you, that’s why it’s also a priority for the council – and the reason why I launched Don’t Trash Oldham more than two years ago.
In the first year alone of the campaign more than 4,000 streets and alleyways were cleaned and an extra 284 tonnes of waste was removed. That was on top of everyday council work.
In the second year we targeted hotspot areas and created lasting community improvements.
We’ve also been tough of offenders and handed out more than 650 fines to those who have committed environmental crimes.
There will always be critics but the work we’ve done has made a difference.
But, sadly, fly-tipping won’t go away. A small minority are happy to soil our communities.
Recently, on social media, I’ve seen quite a lot of images of fly-tipping and bags of rubbish being left dumped across the borough.
I’m sure you’ll have seem them, too.
This is nothing new, but, if you’re like me, they make you angry. I could use other words, but I won’t.
Let’s be clear, the people leaving this rubbish are criminals. They are happy for the council and residents who actually care about where they live to pick up the rubbish they’ve left and get rid of it.
The trouble is it’s you, the council taxpayer, who foots the bill. It costs more than £4m to clear away all the litter and rubbish we find dumped in our roads, parks and open spaces. That’s £4m that could be used on other vital council services to support you and your neighbours, especially the vulnerable.
In a lot of the cases we find, the idiots dumping these black bags, old sofas, beds, furniture and fridges are people who advertise their services on social media.
And it’s your friend, neighbour or relative who is handing over the cash to them to do it.
They’d be the first person to moan if a sofa was dumped at the end of their street but if theirs is left at Oldham Edge then it’s a case of out of sight, out of mind.
Some of these people who drive around the borough in vans – we’ve all seen them - don’t have valid waste carrier licences, which you need to legally get rid of rubbish and goods.
But if the bloke you messaged on Facebook said he’ll come round and take away your old front room cabinet for £20 then some of you think it’s a bargain and saves you having to take it to the tip.
I know not everyone can get to the tip, but if that’s the case please use a trader with a licence or Bulky Bob’s, the council's bulky waste partner. If you don’t and your rubbish is found dumped, then you could be named and shamed.
Our Environmental Health officers investigate all reports sent to us and take action if we find evidence that can be traced to a person or business.
So, please work with us, if you see dumped waste or someone fly-tipping in your neighbourhood -– just visit the council website and report it – and you’ll be helping to make sure your home town is cleaner, greener and safer.