The European Litter Prevention Association

Good practices

One of the core objectives of the Clean Europe Network is to allow its members to share information, experience and expertise about the various ways they go about solving similar problems. The good practice guides that will be developed will also enable newcomers to the field to start work on litter prevention activities without having to reinvent the wheel.

Safer Litter Clean-Ups


The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the need to exercise great care in avoiding the spread of infection through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. Clean Europe Network member organizations pooled their knowledge and experience to produce the first ever European guidelines for volunteer litter-pickers on how to carry out clean-ups in a safer way. A safer approach should be taken to collection of litter at any time because there is always the risk that a discarded item may be either contaminated (e.g. with infectious pathogens or hazardous substances) or be intrinsically dangerous (e.g. broken glass, jagged metal objects, fireworks or syringes).

Since spring 2020, in addition to the range of items that are often littered, we are now witnessing a small but growing number of discarded items of used personal protection equipment such as single use protective gloves and both single use and reusable masks and visors. These items carry a heightened risk of contamination with infectious pathogens including but not limited to coronavirus. However, with the right precautions the risk can be minimized. The Network’s new guidelines explain how.

The Guidelines can be downloaded here and the guidelines in form of a practicle infogram can be accessed here.

Effective Communication


For many years, members of the Clean Europe Network have been devising communication strategies, actions and techniques to encourage people to use the municipal litterbins properly or to bring their rubbish home and dispose of it in a responsible way. They are now sharing their experience about who to target, where and when, and what works and what doesn't. This best practice will be made available in as many EU languages as we can manage to provide newcomers to the field with tried-and-tested approaches that will help them avoid too much trial and error in communicating effectively about responsible behaviour.


Involving Businesses



Businesses can play a key role in the fight to keep our towns and countriside clean and tidy, free of litter. This is in the interest of society as a whole, but companies themselves have a lot to gain. Active involvement in promoting responsible behaviour helps protect their brands or image, provides opportunities for team-building with employees and demonstrates to their local communities and customers that they take their social responsibilities seriously. Members of the Clean Europe Network have been collaborating with businesses to do exactly this for many years - but more can and must be done. The Clean Europe Network is pooling its experience and expertise in engaging with businesses as part of its programme of developing good practices.