A crisp packet from 1999 has been discovered by Windrush Leisure Centre staff and West Oxfordshire District Council during a litter pick celebrating the launch of this year's Great British Spring Clean.
The group ventured onto the streets of Witney to join the country's biggest litter picking event, standing with fellow supporters committed to neighbourhood clean-ups and environmental protection.
The endeavour yielded a mix of litter, featuring metal drink cans, bottles, chocolate wrappers, cigarette-related rubbish, and a pile of crisp packets.
Among the rubbish there was a Walker’s 'Cheese and Owen' crisp packet.
This flavour, advertised in 1999 and endorsed by footballers Michael Owen and Gary Lineker, had survived surprisingly well.
The packet was still in good condition after a quarter of a century.
Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, executive member for environment at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: "We’ve been delighted to help kick off this year’s Spring Clean in partnership with our colleagues at Better.
"We know many parish councils and community groups are planning their litter picks too.
"We hope even more people will be inspired to act."
She added: "Litter can last an extraordinarily long time and retro rubbish, discarded many years, even many decades, ago is still harming our environment now.
"It’s staggering to think that a crisp packet dropped today could still be in our environment in the year 2100 but other commonly littered items are expected to last much longer.
"So, whether it’s picking up a few bits or a few bags, we’re encouraging everyone to get involved and make their pledge to pick for this year’s campaign."
Predictions state that plastic bottles might last for 450 years and metal drink cans may take up to 200 years to fully decompose.
The volunteers' efforts resulted in a haul of 12 bags of rubbish from Witan Way and surrounding streets.
West Oxfordshire District Council have committed to collecting and disposing of the litter bags accumulated throughout the Spring Clean event.
To support volunteers, the council is providing litter grabbers and initial supplies of sacks.
The District Council's Welch Way Town Centre Shop in Witney is the collection point for requested equipment which can be requested either for a one-off event or for longer.
Contact the council’s customer services team on by emailing customer.services@westoxon.gov.uk to request equipment.
Last year's Great British Spring Clean saw UK residents vow to pick up 400,000 bags of litter.
Steered by Keep Britain Tidy, this mass-action environmental campaign is the nation's largest.
Those wishing to participate in this year's effort can pledge their support via the Keep Britain Tidy website.
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