‘Unsung heroes’ remove 300 tonnes of litter from streets in huge carnival clean-up

Waste crews worked overnight throughout the bank holiday weekend to ensure Notting Hill’s streets were returned to normal for residents and businesses just hours after the close of Europe’s largest carnival.

The clean up, led by Kensington and Chelsea council, saw a team of 200 staff and 30 refuse trucks, from SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, head out into the carnival area from 10pm on Sunday and Monday nights to collect the litter.

Crews removed around 300 tonnes of rubbish, equivalent to the weight of around 25 London buses.

Around 30 per cent of the waste will be recycled.

The council provided more than 1,000 compostable, chemical-free and water-free toilets across the carnival area.

Waste crews will spend the coming days cleaning basements and removing graffiti as part of a free council clean-up service.

Councillor Kim Taylor-Smith, Lead Member for Culture, said: “We are immensely proud to host carnival in our borough and to welcome almost two million people who want to join us in celebrating Caribbean culture at Europe’s biggest community event.

“Clearing up when the music stops and the crowds head home is a huge task for us and our partner SUEZ, and I am grateful to the 200 unsung heroes who were out overnight on Sunday and Monday to clear hundreds of tonnes of rubbish.

“Their hard work means that our residents and businesses in Notting Hill woke up on Tuesday morning to find their streets restored to normal just hours after the end of this year’s carnival.”

Kensington and Chelsea council supported Notting Hill carnival with a delivery grant of £335,000 to assist the organisers in delivering a safe event.

Picture: Crews clear up the streets after Notting Hill Carnival (Picture: Kensington and Chelsea council)