BELFAST HARBOUR TEAMS UP WITH KEEP NI BEAUTIFUL FOR BIG SPRING CLEAN
Staff from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and Belfast Harbour joined forces for a litter pick as part of Northern Ireland’s Big Spring Clean campaign, led by Live Here Love Here – the region’s leading community and civic pride initiative. Running until 30 April, Big Spring Clean is Northern Ireland’s largest volunteer-led cleanup effort, inspiring thousands of people each year to take action in their local areas.
This year’s campaign is sponsored by Belfast Harbour, Power NI, and Helping Hand, with continued support from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Together, they are helping mobilise individuals, families, schools, businesses and community groups to brighten shared spaces, protect wildlife and reduce pollution.
At this week’s Belfast Harbour clean-up, over 40 volunteers took part, collecting 26 bags of litter from across the harbour estate and delivering an immediate and visible improvement to the viewing point located at Airport Road West, an area which is popular with walkers and visitors.
Lynda Surgenor, Manager at Live Here Love Here, said: “Big Spring Clean is all about people coming together to take pride in the places they care about, and today’s effort at Belfast Harbour is a brilliant example of that in action. Spaces like this are vital – they’re where local ecosystems flourish, where businesses operate, and where thousands of people pass through every day. Volunteers have helped remove waste that can harm wildlife, pollute waterways and impact the experience of those who live, work and visit the area.
“With such strong public concern around litter, Big Spring Clean offers a practical and positive way for people to take action. We’re grateful to Belfast Harbour for their continued support and to every volunteer who rolled up their sleeves to help keep this important part of the city clean and welcoming.”
The campaign – now in its 16th year – also reflects growing public concern around litter across Northern Ireland. Research commissioned by Live Here Love Here in 2025 found that 85% of people believe littering is a major problem, while 88% agree that everyone must take responsibility for their own waste.
Belfast Harbour’s Marine, Environment & Biodiversity Officer Simon Gibson said: “We are committed to operating sustainably and making a positive contribution to the communities around us. Taking part in initiatives like the Big Spring Clean aligns with our wider ESG commitments and reflects our responsibility to care for the environment in and around the harbour estate, in line with our strategic goals of Creating Vibrant Places to Live and Work and Accelerating to Net Zero. Working alongside Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful on this clean-up was a great opportunity for our team to get involved in a practical way, helping to maintain a clean and welcoming public space while raising awareness of the importance of protecting urban and coastal environments.”
Lynda concludes: “Whether you’re joining a coastal clean-up or tidying your local street, just remember the basics – wear gloves, stay aware of traffic, and look out for each other. Make sure you use a litter picker, avoid lifting anything sharp or heavy, and always wash your hands afterwards. Afterwards, don’t forget to register your clean-up and results on the Live Here Love Here website. A little care goes a long way in keeping everyone safe while making a real difference.”
Big Spring Clean continues across Northern Ireland until 30 April, with individuals, schools, businesses and community groups encouraged to get involved.
For more information, including safety advice and how to get involved, visit liveherelovehere.org/bigspringclean.
