Animal Care and Equine students clean up!

Animal Care and Equine students from Coleg Sir Gâr have given up some of their study time to help clean up the campus.

The Level 1 and 2 Animal Care and Level 2 Equine students from the Pibwrlwyd campus in Carmarthen carried out a litter pick of the area.

In total they filled three blue bags for recycling and eight black bag of non-recyclable rubbish (which included some dirty nappies!).

Carmarthenshire County Council officers from the Street Scene division officers spoke to the students before the litter pick and supplied students with litter-pickers, gloves and bags.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “The council removes around 40 tonnes of litter every week in Carmarthenshire – costing more than £2 million a year – that’s money that could be put to much better use.

“We want people to take action to improve the area in which they live and hopefully keep it that way. By working together we can make Carmarthenshire a much cleaner and safer place for everyone.”

Catheryn Hancock, Lecturer in animal and equine studies at Pibwrlwyd and veterinary surgeon at Carmarthen Veterinary Centre, said: “During their induction week some of the students had noticed litter scattered along the campus road and car park on the campus.

“I contacted officers from the Street Scene department who were great and organised the necessary equipment and PPE required by the students.

“The students felt a sense of achievement in cleaning up the campus – it is noticeably cleaner now. “They were surprised at the amount of litter picked – plastic bottles and fast food restaurant litter were the main problems.”

The students hope to hold another litter pick later in the college year to compare the amount of litter.

If you would like to organise a litter pick email TSRecycling@carmarthenshire.gov.uk or call 01267 224549.