Over 50 employees from The Bank of New York Mellon have joined forces with environmental charity Thames21 to clear litter from beside the River Thames.
Working at low tide close to London Bridge, volunteers from The Bank of New York Mellon cleared three tons of litter, including tyres, crates, plastic bags and other riverside detritus.
This is the sixth year that Bank of New York Mellon employees have helped clean up the riverbank. All too often viewed as a ‘dirty’ river, the Thames’ murky waters are actually down to the river’s size, tidal flow and river activity.
“The Bank of New York Mellon is again pleased to support Thames21 in its ongoing work to clean and green the River Thames,” says Woody Kerr, co-chair of The Bank of New York Mellon, EMEA region. “Employees are actively encouraged to take part in projects during working hours that benefit our local communities and we are fully committed to supporting such initiatives in the future. A number of our London offices overlook the Thames and we have seen first-hand how keeping the foreshores free of litter brings huge benefits to all who live, visit and work by this magnificent river.”
“Thames21 runs up to 100 clean ups each year to reduce the impact of harmful litter on communities and wildlife,” says Chris Coode of Thames21. “As a nation we rely on one another for a decent quality of life, and the commitment of the business community to our Thames project is vital to enhancing the long term health of this incredible natural asset at the heart of our capital city.”
Thames21 was formed 12 ago to counter the lack of any statutory provision requiring organisations to clear litter from rivers and canals. Initially working with communities and businesses to clean up the River Thames, the organisation now works on a range of projects across London’s 400-mile network of rivers and canals.