DMU students join forces to tackle litter in and around the city's waterways

Students from De Montfort University (DMU) have helped fill 35 bags worth of rubbish from around a local river to help clean up the city’s waterways. 

A group of volunteers from the university helped clear piles of waste from the banks of the River Soar, including shopping trolleys, a bike, a grandfather clock and car keys. 

More than 20 students joined forces with Leicester City Council and the Canal and River Trust for the annual litter pick, timed to coincide with the COP29 climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

The event is part of DMU’s own COP29 activities aiming to inspire meaningful local action in line with global climate discussions. 

Armed with gloves, litter pickers, grappling hooks and determination, the students divided into two teams, one group focused on Ellis Meadows, while the other tackled the Willowbrook section of the Grand Union Canal, near Belgrave Circle. Each group worked to remove harmful debris from the waterways preventing plastic waste from reaching the ocean and contributing to global pollution. 

Mollie Lester, Student Sustainability Coordinator at DMU took part in the event, she said: “Everything we’re doing helps reduce the plastic that ends up in the ocean, and it’s something I’m really passionate about. By clearing plastic from local rivers, we’re preventing it from reaching the ocean and harming the wildlife.  

“I am really passionate about litter picking, it’s also fun, gets you outdoors, and I’m really enjoying being part of this effort." 

First year Education Studies student at DMU, Isabelle Hart added: “I enjoy litter picking, I do it as part of a local group and interested in environmental topics, I wanted to come down here and help clear some of the plastic. 

“I think it’s good way to raise awareness of the different things people can do to get involved, and the impact individuals can have.” 

Mark Charlton was delighted by the turnout of students to the event, he said: “The event was a huge success and shows how students can make a real difference by taking direct action. 

“Much of the rubbish in the bag was plastics that has now been prevented from getting into our rivers, reaching the sea, and injuring wildlife. 

“Our students worked hard, and many asked for information about how to get involved in future clean-up efforts.” 

The clean-up comes at a time when plastic pollution in rivers and canals is a pressing issue, with an estimated 575,000 pieces of plastic waste entering Britain’s waterways each year.  

More than 80% of plastic that ends up polluting oceans, seas, and beaches comes from being discarded on land. On a global scale, it is estimated 12 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the oceans annually, and the cumulative total is now more than 171 trillion pieces of plastic in the seas around the world. 

This initiative also aligns with DMU’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), encouraging hands-on environmental action. After their efforts, the students returned to campus for a celebratory pizza lunch and received certificates recognising their contributions to local sustainability.