Using social media to prevent litter and flytipping
Let’s talk about litter – because communicating clearly is the first step in changing attitudes and behaviour around waste.
Social media is an easy and affordable way to reach lots of different people, so it’s an essential tool in any litter prevention campaign.
Here’s how to use your social media channels to their full potential.
Visuals are vital
Posts that include images and videos generally enjoy higher engagement than ones that use words only.
On platforms powered by pictures – such as Instagram – imagery is all.
Not all images are created equal. If you’re using photography, professional shots are best – closely followed by amateur shots taken with a quality camera. Photographs from a smartphone are OK too, but take the time to make sure they’re well-lit, well-framed and in focus.
Who does it well?
Litterati
This app encourages users to snap a picture before they pick up litter. It links with Instagram to create a visual record of abandoned rubbish around the world.
Great at:
Crowdsourcing images to drive home the scale of the problem.
Glasgow City Council
The council’s social accounts cover a range of issues. Littering and flytipping feature regularly.
Great at:
Using a mix of photography and eye-catching graphics to highlight community issues and encourage people to take ownership of their local area.
Keep Britain Tidy
The environmental charity uses its social channels to show litter and flytipping in all its ugly glory. It also encourages people to report litter hotspots – or #grotspots as they call them.
Great at:
Giving visual updates of how bad the UK’s litter problem has become.
Glasgow’s Environmental Task Force
The role of the environmental task force is to reinvigorate efforts to maintain the city. It uses Facebook and Twitter to give the public a voice.
Great at:
Providing practical steps for people who want to make a difference.
Inspired?
Get re-brandable, context-specific visuals to share on your social media channels from our comprehensive litter prevention toolkit.