LAGER Can Values Last Year's Efforts at £300,000

Volunteers' environmental work has helped make parks and streets cleaner

LAGER Can volunteers. Picture: Lager Can

February 4, 2026

A volunteer group that helps keep Ealing's parks and streets clean contributed the equivalent of £300,000 worth of environmental work last year, according to its newly published 2025 Annual Review.

LAGER Can – the volunteer-led organisation whose members litter-pick, report fly-tipping and support environmental projects across the borough – recorded more than 16,000 volunteer hours in 2025. The group estimates that this is equivalent to the work of nine full-time employees. Volunteers also collected the equivalent of 30,000 bags of waste from public spaces, including parks, streets and waterways.

Chair Cathy Swift said the group's achievements reflected both commitment and community spirit. “I've been running LAGER Can for five years, and I am incredibly grateful for the energy, enthusiasm and hard work of our members,” she said. “Genuine friendships have been made, and we find that being outdoors doing something worthwhile is beneficial for our physical and mental health.”

The group's membership continues to grow, with its Facebook community reaching 2,400 people by the end of 2025. Hundreds of volunteers take part in regular activities, supported by a small administrative team that provides coordination equivalent to up to one full-time role.

Over the past year, volunteers took part in 271 organised events, worked within 13 local litter-picking groups, collected more than 20,000 bags of litter, and reported 754 fly-tipping incidents between June and December.

The group also played a significant role in strengthening fly-tipping enforcement. Between June and December, 25 volunteers trialled sending evidence-based fly-tip reports directly to the council's enforcement subcontractors. This resulted in 53 reports, leading to 42 caution questionnaires and 35 Fixed Penalty Notices, generating £8,200 in fines.

LAGER Can members also supported the council's trial of a tape-and-sticker system designed to reduce repeat dumping by marking fly-tips before collection. In addition, the group worked closely with the council's CCTV team to identify hotspot locations. Cameras installed on The Common in Southall captured 86 fly-tipping incidents, including 62 involving identifiable vehicles, all of which received £1,000 penalties.

LAGER Can volunteers. Picture: Lager Can

Beyond litter-picking, the group supported a wide range of community initiatives. Volunteers supervised 85 Duke of Edinburgh Award students, worked with 14 schools and multiple Guide and Scout groups, and assisted at major events including the Great British Spring Clean, Hanwell Hootie and Brentham Fireworks. They also collaborated with environmental groups such as CURB and Friends of Grove Farm, and benefited from fundraising partnerships including Ealing Golf Club and individual marathon fundraising efforts.

The Annual Review emphasises LAGER Can's long-term strategy of collaboration with Ealing Council, Greener Ealing Limited, councillors, MPs and community organisations. The group says this approach has helped deliver sustained improvements to the borough's environment.