More than 30,000 people came together this spring to help clean up Scotland in what has become the nation’s biggest coordinated litter picking campaign.
The four-week #SpringCleanScotland initiative, led by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, saw a tremendous effort unfold across every corner of the country.
From the Borders to the Highlands, nearly 50,000 bags of litter were collected, totalling an astonishing 325 tonnes.
Between 21 March and 21 April, over 33,000 individuals joined forces at more than 2,600 events, making a real difference to the places they care about.
Among them were 18,000 young people, whose energy and commitment shone through every step of the campaign.
A highlight for younger participants was the Litter League, an annual competition that encourages friendly rivalry in pursuit of cleaner communities.
This year’s champions were the B-Dale Explorer Scouts from West Lothian, who proudly claimed victory after a hard-fought effort.
Barry Fisher, Chief Executive at Keep Scotland Beautiful, spoke warmly of the collective determination shown.
“We know there is a litter emergency in Scotland,” he said.
“But we also know that in every community there are people who care deeply and are willing to take action.”
He added:
“Spring Clean Scotland allows us to harness that collective energy, bringing people together to inspire lasting change.”
Barry was especially heartened by the involvement of so many young volunteers.
“It is truly inspiring to see more than half of this year’s participants were young people,” he said.
“They are showing great leadership and awareness of the challenges facing their communities.”
He also recognised the countless unsung heroes whose quiet efforts may never be formally recorded.
“To everyone who took part, whether you shared your achievements or simply picked up litter as part of daily life, thank you for helping to keep Scotland beautiful.”
Spring Clean Scotland is one of several initiatives supporting the Scottish Government’s National Litter and Flytipping Strategy and the Marine Litter Strategy.
For those looking to take their involvement further, Keep Scotland Beautiful offers a Community Litter eLearning module.
The free 90-minute course provides insight into litter issues and practical steps for community action.
Participants receive a certificate of achievement upon completion.
In addition, the charity’s Community Litter Hub offers a wealth of resources to support anyone keen to make a difference.
To explore the full #SpringCleanScotland 2025 Report and learn more, visit: www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org
