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National campaign to tackle littering wins support of Highland Council


By Philip Murray

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Irresponsible fast food fans dumped loads of used KFC wrappings and a smashed bottle of vodka on the B861 just south of Inverness at the weekend. Picture: Philip Murray.
Irresponsible fast food fans dumped loads of used KFC wrappings and a smashed bottle of vodka on the B861 just south of Inverness at the weekend. Picture: Philip Murray.

A MAJOR new campaign urging people to respect the landscape by taking their litter home has won the backing of Highland Council.

The local authority currently spends more than £2 million dealing with litter every year and has thrown its weight behind the second phase of the Scotland is Stunning – Let’s Keep it that Way campaign, in a bid to tackle the costly problem.

First launched last year to coincide with tourism reopening in Scotland, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the harm done by littering, encouraging people to take their litter home or bin it.

Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson, said: “Scotland really is stunning and this is such a fantastic and worthwhile campaign to be a part of. We’re so passionate about preserving our beautiful Scottish countryside.

“It’s all about reminding everyone out and about enjoying themselves to leave wherever they go exactly the way you found it.”

Chairman of the council’s communities and place committee, Councillor Allan Henderson, added: “Litter isn’t just an eyesore – it harms our wildlife, contributes to the climate crisis and impacts on our health and wellbeing.

“Each year the council spends over £2 million on cleaning up litter, money that could be much better spent investing in our local communities and improving the road network. The campaign message is simple – to make sure everyone can enjoy our parks, beaches, hills, woodlands and countryside after you leave please put your rubbish in the bin, recycling it if you can.”

The campaign was launched by Zero Waste Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government and Keep Scotland Beautiful. Research carried out by Zero Waste Scotland revealed that 89 per cent of people see litter as an issue, and a third have seen the problem grow since the pandemic.

Barry Fisher, chief executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We all can, and should, do more to tackle litter. And while some people need to change their behaviour, thousands of people have pledged to litter pick as part of our Summer Clean, helping them turn their anger into action.”

For more information see www.managingourwaste.scot/litter.


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