Giuliano Orrico can often be seen around Golders Green wearing his high-visibility vest and carrying a litter picker in one hand and refuse sack in the other.
He claims he was collecting cigarette butts and other rubbish in the green spaces in May when staff at Golders Green bus station asked him to stop – and when he did not, called the police.
He said: “I was a bit shocked and disappointed.
“A man stopped me and made me talk to a manager and he called the police. I asked him ‘am I doing a crime?’ and they did nothing.”
He said he wished to talk to Transport for London, which runs the tube and bus station, about the incident, but had not found it easy to contact anyone.
The Italian-born children’s football coach has voluntarily picked up rubbish in the area since 2018.
The 55-year-old, who lives in Edgware, said he was “devoted” to his campaign to connect sport with litter picking and wants to involve schools.
He added: “I encourage and engage youth to help me and they are very keen and willing, even children who are three years old, they want to use the pickers.
“I want to talk to head teachers and if possible introduce this activity at some point in the year.
“Some children come out of school and they have food or a snack and they throw it on the floor. It’s not good.
“It’s an important campaign. It’s an issue that’s everywhere. Even in Italy there are problems with this. People have no respect for the environment.”
Transport for London was contacted for comment.
