Keep Scotland Beautiful needs you to help tackle litter emergency
90% of people agree that litter is a problem across Scotland.
If you are one of them, then environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful needs your help this spring.
The #SpringCleanScotland 2024 mass litter pick kicks off on 15 March and runs until 28 April, bringing together people from across Scotland to help tackle our country’s litter emergency.
Last year more than 30,000 people across Scotland rolled up their sleeves and, equipped with litter pickers, bags and gloves, made a positive difference to their own neighbourhoods.
But this year we’re urging people to get involved and contribute to an even bigger national response.
With litter significantly impacting the cleanliness of 75% of our streets and roads, #SpringCleanScotland 2024 will inspire action to reverse the deterioration in environmental quality in Scotland’s neighbourhoods.
With four key themes – Nature, Communities, Health & Wellbeing and Marine Litter – this year, it is time for everyone to step up and play their part.
Every action, however small, makes a difference.
Just half an hour of picking up litter and disposing of it safely can help an area look cleaner and feel safer.
Evidence also shows it prevents more litter being dropped, and 89% of those that took part in last year’s #SpringCleanScotland said going outdoors to litter pick helped them relax and unwind.
Barry Fisher, Chief Executive at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said:
“Encouragingly, our research confirms that 85% of people agree that they want to see more efforts to prevent litter in their area.
“It starts with us.
“No longer can we wait for someone else to pick up the litter we might walk past every day – so we are inviting everyone to organise a litter pick with friends, family, workmates or alone, or to join an event registered on our Clean Up Scotland map.
“Every action, however small, will help us reverse the litter emergency.”
Mike Scotland, organiser of one of Scotland’s biggest ever litter pick events in Aberdeen this January, said:
“I’m not just looking to encourage one person to take part in a litter pick this Spring Clean, I’m hoping to encourage as many people across the country as I can.
“I want to make a positive difference to the world and I won’t stop trying to encourage as many people as possible to play their part in cleaning it up.
“If you can spot a difference, you can make a difference.
“You just need to try.”
If you are inspired to take positive action learn more, access our tools and resources and sign up your event here: www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/springclean
We are pleased to be working in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy and Keep Wales Tidy to support the Great British Spring Clean.
You can hear more from inspiring volunteers about their litter picking journey in the National Conversation
Additionally you can learn more about the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy and how you can get involved at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/litter
