Almost 20 bags of rubbish, buckets of bottles and a lost wallet were among the finds as De Montfort University, Leicester (DMU) staff and students joined forces to clean up Leicester’s waterways.
Working with the Canal & River Trust, volunteers cleared litter from the canal alongside the university campus, helping to improve the local environment and launch DMU’s COP31 programme.
The clean-up is the first of 25 activities taking place over the next two weeks, bringing staff, students and the local community together to explore sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as world leaders gather in Antalya, Türkiye, for COP31.
Second-year student Queen Oben was among the volunteers taking part. As an SDG Student Fellow at DMU, she explained why getting involved in practical activities was important to her.
She said: “I am committed to promoting the SDGs. I believe in taking practical steps towards creating a cleaner, safer and more sustainable environment.
“Taking part in litter-picking allows me to contribute to environmental sustainability, promote responsible waste disposal and make a positive difference in the community.
“We found so many random things today, including a wallet with an ID card and debit card and numerous empty glass drinks bottles and cans. It was great to be out there and be part of it.”
Jasmine Walker, Climate Action Officer at DMU and organiser of the event, described the clean-up as a fitting way to launch the programme.
She said: “We are here today doing our litter-pick event, which is kicking off our two weeks of events for COP31 here in Leicester.
“There are 25 events for staff, students and the local community to engage with, bringing the SDGs to life.”
The university worked in partnership with the Canal & River Trust, a charity responsible for caring for more than 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales.
Sue Willis, Engagement Coordinator at the Trust, highlighted the importance of working with organisations such as DMU to protect local waterways.
She said: “I work in Leicester trying to improve waterways, right from here at DMU all the way to Watermead Park.
“We are a charity, and we rely heavily on partner organisations. We are really grateful to DMU for inviting us and organising this litter-pick.
“We did one earlier in the year, back in May, on a different section of the canal, which was a great success. It is lovely to be here today by the university itself.”
The university is also looking to adopt a stretch of the canal towpath, creating opportunities for more regular litter picks and greater student involvement in caring for the local environment. The initiative will further demonstrate DMU’s commitment to supporting the local community and improving shared spaces for everyone to enjoy.
This work forms part of DMU’s wider commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. As the only UK university to host a dedicated United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) hub for this goal, DMU champions the role universities can play in creating more inclusive, sustainable and resilient communities.
DMU’s COP31 programme will continue over the next two weeks, with further opportunities for staff, students and the local community to get involved, share ideas and take action on sustainability challenges.
Anyone interested in becoming a Staff or Student Fellow can sign up by emailing dmusdg@dmu.ac.uk.
Posted on Tuesday 10 November 2026