Majority Call for Cleaner Streets
A staggering four in five Scots believe more must be done to tackle Scotland’s litter problem, as shown in the latest survey by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful.
The 2024 Scottish Litter Survey reveals a strong public appetite for change, with 82% of people urging increased efforts to prevent litter and 81% calling for more action to clean up local communities.
Despite this push for change, the majority—nearly 90%—agree that litter remains a significant issue across the country, with particular concerns raised about how litter affects Scotland’s deprived areas compared to its more affluent ones and the differences between urban and rural environments.
Conducted annually by the Diffley Partnership, the survey captures public attitudes and shows a persistent demand to address what’s widely regarded as a “litter emergency.”
However, positive steps have already been made, with over 45,000 Scots taking part in this year’s Spring Clean Scotland and a ban on single-use vapes, one of the fastest-growing litter items, set to come into effect on 1 April 2025.
Keep Scotland Beautiful has also pushed forward with its National Litter and Flytipping Strategy, launching an online Community Litter Hub and several initiatives aimed at reducing single-use packaging and on-the-go litter.
Barry Fisher, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, says the survey reflects a growing consensus on the need to tackle the litter crisis head-on, and he stresses the importance of individual action in solving this nationwide issue.
Fisher points to the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme, the Circular Economy Bill, and Extended Producer Responsibility legislation as signs of progress, which, when combined with continued public support, offer hope for a litter-free Scotland.
Gillian Martin, Scotland’s Acting Net Zero Secretary, echoes this sentiment, highlighting that both the public and the Government share the responsibility of keeping Scotland beautiful, and she affirms that ongoing work within the 2023 National Litter and Flytipping Strategy is making headway.
Martin acknowledges the economic and environmental damage litter causes, stating that insights from the survey will guide future measures to strengthen enforcement and support community-led initiatives.
Keep Scotland Beautiful encourages everyone to get involved by joining the Upstream Battle® survey, accessing resources on the Community Litter Hub, or supporting Spring Clean 2025, which promises to be the biggest yet with proper funding.
The message from Scots is clear: tackling litter has never been more urgent, and the country is rallying together to ensure a cleaner, greener Scotland for generations to come.
