Folkestone & Hythe District Council launches 2026 anti-litter poster competition for young artists

The council is inviting under-18s to design posters promoting a cleaner environment, with the winner’s artwork featured on a bin lorry.

Nine-year-old Isabelle’s colourful anti-litter drawing has become the poster child for Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s latest environmental initiative. Her artwork, showcased in the council’s recent announcement, represents exactly the kind of creative energy officials hope to harness through their 2026 poster competition for young artists.

The council has launched its second annual anti-litter poster competition, calling on all under-18s across the district to submit designs that champion a cleaner, greener environment. Building on what officials describe as a successful debut in 2025, this year’s competition forms part of the nationwide Great British Spring Clean campaign.

The winning young artist will receive more than just recognition for their efforts. Their design will be printed on a Veolia bin lorry, turning their artwork into a mobile billboard that travels throughout Folkestone, Hythe and surrounding areas. The winner also receives a £50 Love2Shop voucher.

Two runners-up won’t go empty-handed either. Each will receive £25 Love2Shop vouchers for their efforts.

Young artists have until 12am on Monday 13 April 2026 to submit their entries. The council has made the process straightforward – designs can be uploaded via the council website or posted to GBSC Anti-Litter Competition, Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2QY.

The competition operates in partnership with Veolia, the waste management company that services the district. This collaboration means winning designs will reach residents across all neighbourhoods as the decorated bin lorries make their regular rounds.

Cllr Jeremy Speakman, Cabinet Member for Waste and Street Cleansing, has expressed enthusiasm about seeing creative ideas from young people to promote anti-littering messages. The council’s approach reflects a broader strategy to engage younger residents as environmental champions.

According to council statements, the initiative aims to empower young people whilst spreading anti-litter messages throughout the district. Officials believe that involving children and teenagers in environmental campaigns helps build community pride in maintaining cleaner streets and public spaces.

This marks the second year the council has run the competition, reviving it as part of their commitment to the Great British Spring Clean national campaign. The 2025 edition, which had a deadline of 20 April 2025, provided the foundation for this year’s expanded effort.

The timing aligns with the council’s broader environmental priorities. The competition was referenced in official documents ahead of the 1 April 2026 Council meeting, indicating it forms part of the authority’s formal waste and street cleansing strategy.

The initiative targets families and schoolchildren district-wide, with no specific wards highlighted as particular focus areas. This broad approach means young people from coastal Folkestone to rural areas around Hythe can participate equally.

But the real impact comes after the competition ends. Winning designs displayed on bin lorries will be visible across all neighbourhoods, potentially reaching thousands of residents during regular waste collection rounds. The mobile nature of the display means anti-litter messages travel from residential streets to busy town centres.

Veolia’s involvement brings practical expertise to the campaign. The waste management company’s 2025 General Manager welcomed the previous competition as a way to inspire pupils, with similar support continuing into 2026.

This partnership model allows the council to extend its environmental messaging beyond traditional channels. Rather than static posters in council buildings, the bin lorry displays bring anti-litter campaigns directly to residents’ doorsteps.

The competition represents part of a longer-term approach to environmental improvement in Folkestone & Hythe. By engaging young people now, the council hopes to grow environmental awareness that extends well beyond the competition deadline.

The mobile display element means winning artwork could influence behaviour across multiple communities throughout the year, as bin lorries follow their regular routes.

Key Takeaways

• Under-18s across Folkestone & Hythe can enter anti-litter poster designs until 12am on 13 April 2026
• The winner receives £50 Love2Shop voucher and sees their design printed on a Veolia bin lorry
• This is the second year of the competition, part of the Great British Spring Clean campaign

What This Means for Folkestone & Hythe Residents

Parents, teachers and young people across the district now have an opportunity to engage with environmental issues whilst potentially winning prizes and public recognition. Entries can be submitted online via the council website or posted to the Civic Centre in Folkestone before the 13 April deadline. The competition offers a practical way for families to discuss littering and environmental responsibility, with winning designs becoming visible reminders throughout the district as they travel on bin lorries during regular waste collection rounds.