Andy Salter

“A birthday isn’t all about me. It’s about what I can give back,” says Andy Salter.

While many people celebrate milestone birthdays with parties, Andy has chosen a different way to mark his. For his 51st birthday, he plans to spend the day walking Salford’s streets with a litter picker, aiming to collect 51 bags of rubbish — one for every year he has lived.

It’s a challenge he first set for himself last year when he turned 50, collecting 50 bags of litter with the help of friends, family and volunteers.

Andy runs two volunteer groups, Love Your Planet Salford and Clean Up Salford, and spends much of his time helping to organise litter picks and encourage others to take pride in their neighbourhoods.

“I don’t work, everything I do is volunteering,” he says.

His commitment to volunteering began at a young age. Growing up on a council estate in Gravesend, Kent, Andy says he was encouraged to give back to the community whenever possible.

“I started volunteering when I was 11 – just shopping for elderly people. I’ve always been taught to give back whenever and wherever I can.”

Fourteen years ago, Andy moved to Salford during a difficult period in his life. Struggling with mental health challenges and feeling isolated, he found that improving his local environment helped him find purpose.

“My outside environment was not very inviting. It was really dirty. Everywhere I went, all I could see was litter.”

Rather than ignore it, Andy decided to do something about it.

“There’s only me that can do something about that.”

What began as a solo clean-up soon grew into something much bigger. Today Andy works with volunteers, schools and community organisations across the city, helping to create cleaner streets and greener neighbourhoods.

Alongside his litter picking, he also volunteers at Primrose Hill Primary School in Ordsall and works with community organisations including The Langworthy Cornerstone and Inspiring Communities Together.

For Andy, the impact of cleaner streets goes beyond appearance.

“People don’t realise the mental health impact of living in a dirty environment. When you walk through a clean area, it feels different. It’s good for you.”

His dedication has not gone unnoticed. Andy has been shortlisted for the Salford CVS Heart of Salford Awards and nominated by Keep Britain Tidy for Litter Picker of the Year.

But for him, the motivation remains simple.

“Please be a bit more considerate. Even if you didn’t drop it, recognise that people are giving their free time because they want a better place to live.”

Read the full story on Salford Now.