London Bangla A Force for the community…
A Grassroots Victory for Cleaner Streets and Community Pride
Muhammad Talha
The Little Litter League, a grassroots volunteer led initiative tackling urban waste, has reached a major milestone: collecting over 3,000 bags of litter since its formation in Barking & Dagenham. Expanding its reach, the group now organises regular “litter pucks” across Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney, and beyond, demonstrating the power of local action in promoting environmental responsibility.
Founded on the belief that small acts create big change, the Little Litter League is built on community pride, eco awareness, and social wellbeing. The group runs with a clear set of objectives:
• Encourage community-led street cleanups
• Inspire young and old to engage with their local environment
• Promote sustainability and civic action
• Improve mental and physical wellbeing through purposeful activity
Each litter puck is a celebration of civic pride and a reminder that everyone can play a part in creating cleaner, greener, more livable neighbourhoods. Volunteers, many of them students, parents, and local workers report a deeper sense of connection, purpose, and community spirit after taking part.
“At its heart, the Little Litter League is about ownership,” says team captain Emdad Rahman, a long-time community volunteer and the driving force behind the initiative.
“We’re not waiting for someone else to fix the problem. We’re showing that if we all do a little, together we can do a lot.”
Emdad has been active in local volunteering for over four decades, from food banks to mental health advocacy. His leadership in the League has been instrumental in mobilising diverse groups and turning litter-picking into a local movement.
The group hopes to inspire similar teams across the UK, strengthen ties with schools, faith groups and youth organisations, and push for more eco-conscious habits in everyday life.
“As much as we’re cleaning streets,” Rahman adds, “we’re also clearing the mental clutter. Being outside, working together, having purpose improves lives, not just landscapes.”
About the Little Litter League:
Founded in Barking & Dagenham, the Little Litter League is a volunteer driven initiative focussed on environmental responsibility, civic engagement, and community wellbeing. Since its inception, the group has expanded to multiple boroughs and collected over 3,000 bags of litter – one bag at a time.
