Volunteers have successfully removed 4 tonnes of waste from streets and public spaces across Oxford during the annual OxClean spring event. Held over two weekends in March 2026, the initiative saw participants collect 2.7 tonnes of rubbish alongside 1.3 tonnes of recyclable material.
The cleanup effort, organised by the Oxford Civic Society, is a long-standing community tradition that works in partnership with Oxford City Council and the council contractor Oxford Direct Services. The initiative typically coordinates more than 1,200 volunteers and 30 local businesses to address litter throughout the city.
Following this year’s event, the society announced a significant change in leadership. Founder Rosanne Bostock, who started the programme in 2007 after being inspired by a similar scheme in Sydney, Australia, has stepped down after nearly two decades of service. Other long-standing team members, including Liz Grosvenor and Ingrid Lunt, have also departed their roles.
The leadership changes continued at the society’s annual meeting on 7 April 2026 at Worcester College, where long-standing Honorary Secretary Vernon Porter also stepped down amidst discussions regarding the organisation’s future governance. The society, which was founded in 1969, is now calling on residents to assist in organising the 2027 event. Opportunities are currently available for volunteers to join the planning, transport, or community working groups to ensure the continued success of the project.
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