Tasty clean-up by McDonald’s

Tasty clean-up by McDonald’s

20 July 2022

STAFF from McDonald’s restaurant in Downpatrick recently joined forces with South Down MLA Patrick Brown to take part in a clean-up at the Ballymote Centre play park on the outskirts of the town.

The event was part of the fast food chain’s campaign to to tackle litter in parks, paths and along roadsides in towns across Northern Ireland.

The ‘30 parks in 30 days’ campaign saw McDonald’s employees undertake more than 30 litter clean-ups in parks and nature areas across the province throughout June. 

Led by the seven local franchisees across McDonald’s estate of 34 restaurants, the clean-up events were supported by local councils, elected representatives and football clubs.

Mr Brown said that as a former employee at McDonald’s in Downpatrick, he was delightedto join the litter pick event.

“I applaud all the great work being done in the community by the local McDonald’s team,” he said.

“It is fantastic to see local businesses embracing corporate responsibility and giving back to their area and, in particular, want to recognise the excellent work of the McDonald’s business manager, Balazs Gazdag, in leading the store from strength to strength.”

Des Lamph, the franchisee of the Downpatrick restaurant, said McDonald’s takes its environmental responsibilities extremely seriously.

“We very much share our customers’ and stakeholders’ disappointment and frustration at seeing litter discarded carelessly in parks, on paths and by the sides of roads,” he continued.

“Whilst our employees regularly undertake voluntary litter clean-ups in Downpatrick and the surrounding areas, this collaborative ‘30 parks in 30 days’ campaign between our restaurants and local communities reinforces our strong commitment of our wider business to tackling litter right across Northern Ireland.”

Mr Lamph said the campaign adds further to “a wide range of litter initiatives” rolled out by McDonald’s on a daily basis. 

Across the UK and Ireland, McDonald’s staff collect 27 tonnes of litter every year, on litter patrols that 

take place around every restaurant three times a day. Employees also cover a total of 5,000 miles each week picking up all waste, be it its own packaging or that of other restaurants and retailers.

Mr Lamph added: “Alongside our practical and operational initiatives, we are committed to investing in proactive campaigns that help bring about behavioural change in relation to important societal and environmental issues such as littering.”