A Pontypridd-based volunteer group has been honoured with a prestigious award for its outstanding environmental work. The Treforest Litter Pickers have been named Rhondda Cynon Taf's most active community group of 2025 by the charity Keep Wales Tidy.
Remarkable Impact in a Short Time
Founded just in March this year, the group has made a significant difference to the local area in a remarkably short period. Their dedicated efforts have been pivotal in keeping the streets, parks, and green spaces of Treforest clean, safe, and welcoming for all residents and visitors.
The statistics behind their success are impressive. Over the past year, the enthusiastic volunteers have collected a staggering 529 bags of litter. They have contributed more than 394 hours of their own time and successfully engaged over 215 participants in various community clean-up events.
A Community-Driven Success Story
The group was formed by residents determined to make a positive change. They have demonstrated that litter picking can be a fun, sociable, and highly rewarding activity. By identifying key litter and fly-tipping hotspots, the group built a strong online community through a dedicated Facebook page. This platform allows them to share updates, promote upcoming events, and inspire others to join their cause.
Founder Ben Hicks expressed his pride in the team, stating: "We are a friendly and enthusiastic group of Treforest residents who meet regularly to pick up litter in our beautiful local area. Our volunteers make such a massive difference to the community. The streets, lanes and green spaces are a lot tidier and we congratulate them for their dedication."
He added, "Treforest is such a great place to live, work and study, it just needs a little bit of care and attention. We have plans to do even more for our local environment in 2026."
Official Recognition and Future Inspiration
Hywel Tanner-Jones, the Rhondda Cynon Taf Project Officer for Keep Wales Tidy, praised the group's growth. "I've loved seeing Treforest Litter Pickers go from strength to strength this year," he said. "More than 215 volunteers have taken part in their clean-ups, collecting hundreds of bags of litter and making a real difference. Their passion shows just how rewarding it can be to protect our environment."
The hope is that this recognition will inspire more people across the county borough to take action. There are multiple ways for residents to get involved in similar efforts.
People can join an existing community group for regular clean-ups or borrow free litter-picking equipment from their nearest Litter Picking Hub to conduct a tidy-up at their own convenience. These hubs and community activities form part of a nationwide initiative funded by the Welsh Government, empowering everyone to help keep Wales clean, green, and beautiful.
To find out more about volunteering opportunities, visit the Keep Wales Tidy website at www.keepwalestidy.cymru/get-involved/volunteering/.
