100,000 Volunteers x 10 Miles = 1 Million Miles. We’re working in partnership with Surfers Against Sewage cleaning one million miles of mountains, rivers, beaches and streets to protect the environment from the growing problem of plastic pollution. Join us for the biggest, most ambitious mountain clean campaign ever during the week of 15th - 23rd May.

Created in direct response to the pandemic, the Million Mile Clean connects mountain and beach cleaning action and aims to inspire, empower and support 100,000 people to clean 10 miles in 2021. After more than a year of isolation, social distancing and reduced physical activity, the Million Mile Clean reconnects communities with the environment, whilst promoting the benefits of volunteering for both mental health and physical wellbeing.

• 10 Miles for your Mind
• 10 Miles for your Body
• 10 Miles for the Mountains

Organised by Surfers Against Sewage, it will run throughout the year, and aims to inspire, empower and support 100,000 volunteers walking 10 miles whilst cleaning the places they love. The Million Mile Clean will be the longest clean-up campaign ever undertaken. It will mobilise individuals, bring together communities and promote environmental optimism and hope for a more sustainable future.

The BMC is supporting this campaign and we would like as many people as possible during the week of Sat 15^th May until Sat 23^rd May to get out there and clean 10 miles of mountains of litter.

Get involved

Organise or take part in cleans happening at the Beach, Rivers, Mountain and on city Streets – whichever is more local to you. We want to see people from all walks of life joining in, whether that’s on a Munro, at the crag, up river banks or on the roadside.

REGISTER: Your 10 mile clean up

We are calling on individuals, schools, organisations, clubs and local businesses to sign up, get involved and commit to covering 10 miles of cleans in 2021.

For more information and to register your 10-mile clean, please visit the Surfers Against Sewage website where you will also be able to request some equipment and promote your events on their website.  They have also set up a cool Strava Club ‘Surfers Against Sewage: Million Mile Clean’ United Kingdom Club | Surfers Against Sewage: Million Mile Clean on Strava.

This campaign will run alongside the BMC Hills 2 Oceans (H2O) campaign that continues to encourage everyone to remove as much litter from our hills and mountains so that it doesn’t end up in our oceans.

Share your rubbish stories:

Our H2O Facebook page is full of interesting stories and is a great record of the amount of waste we are removing from our mountains, crags and hills. From nappies, banana skins, bottles and wet wipes to pants, socks and a ghetto blaster – we’ve been removing all sorts.  We would love to hear from anyone that is about to undertake a litter pick. In particular, where you go, how much rubbish you remove and if you find anything of interest. You can do this by sharing your stories with us on our dedicated Facebook Group.

JOIN: The H2O Facebook Group

DOWNLOAD: Removing litter safely during COVID BMC guidance

DOWNLOAD: Poster for clubs and groups to use for their Million Mile Mountain Clean event

Did you know:

• Everyday about eight million pieces of plastic pollution find their way into our oceans
• Approximately 6.3bn tonnes of plastic waste is generated in the UK each year and out of this around 9% has been recycled, 12% incinerated & 79% is in landfills or the natural environment
• Approximately 480bn bottles were sold globally in 2016 (approximately 1 million bottles per minute) and only 7% of these were recycled
• A tissue takes around six weeks to break down, a Cigarette butt takes up to 10 years and an Aluminium Can takes about 200 years.

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