Sources of litter

On our streets, the latest data (2024/25) shows us that nearly half (41%) of the litter counted was smoking related. Primarily cigarette stubs, these small items are less obvious to the eye but contain harmful materials and can easily make their way into our waterways.

Over 12% of items were drinks items and another 11% were confectionery items.  Making up over 25% of counted items, food and drink on the go is a major contributor to the litter problem.

A huge amount of marine litter comes from inland, making its way to our seas via rivers and roads. Smoking-related, confectionery and drinks items are common across both terrestrial and marine environments whilst some are more specific to marine environments.

Accidents / escapes

It is almost unavoidable that some items will escape into our environment becoming litter. This could be a tissue falling out of your pocket, a bag catching the wind and flying off, a bin lid flying open and domestic waste escaping, or animals taking items out of a public bin.

There have also been reports of coastal erosion causing old landfill sites to be exposed and waste uncovered and escaping. A map of active and closed landfill sites that are/were regulated by SEPA can be found on Scotland’s waste sites and capacity data tool. Many of the coastal landfill sites are historic and were never regulated by SEPA. Local authorities may hold information on these.

Some items end up in waterways and eventually the marine environment after having been inappropriately flushed down the toilet.  To reduce overflows and blockages, it is important to only flush the 3Ps: pee, poo and paper. Everything else should go in the bin and not down the toilet.  Scottish Water has published an online map showing the locations of monitored overflows on the Scottish Water network.

Vapes 

Vapes are a relatively new type of litter, and their small size means they can easily be left behind in streets, parks and other public spaces. They also contain electrical components and batteries, meaning they should not be treated as ordinary rubbish.

Single-use or disposable vapes have been banned from sale and supply in Scotland since 1 June 2025. However, vapes are still being found as litter, and reusable vapes also need to be disposed of correctly when they reach the end of their life. Keep Scotland Beautiful's 2026 reporting found a decrease in littered vapes following the ban, while highlighting that safe disposal and recycling remain challenges.

When vapes are littered or put into general waste, their batteries and other components can introduce materials into the environment and create a fire risk when damaged or crushed during waste collection or processing.

Vapes can, and should be, recycled. More information about where and how to recycle vapes can be found on the Preventing Waste page. 

Nitrous Oxide 

Nitrous oxide is another item that can be found as litter in public spaces in a variety of ways. A UK Government report found that the use of nitrous oxide is associated with the littering of cannisters, cartridges and balloons. However, there is currently no national data on the extent of nitrous oxide canister litter.

Discarded canisters can also contribute to litter in streets, parks and other public spaces. The canisters are made of metal and can contain gas under pressure. This means they are not suitable for household or mixed recycling. If they are crushed, punctured or exposed to heat during waste collection or processing, they can present a serious safety risk. 

If nitrous oxide cannisters are found during a litter pick, some councils recommend that they be left unbagged next to the bagged rubbish for collection, however, please check your local authority’s website for further information. For more information on disposal of nitrous oxide, please see our Preventing Waste page. 

Balloons and Lanterns 

Balloons and flying lanterns can become litter when they are released outdoors.

Once released, they are carried by wind and eventually return to land or water. Balloons can include the balloon itself as well as ribbons, strings, confetti within the balloon and other attached materials. Flying lanterns can leave behind paper and frames made from materials such as wire or bamboo.

Balloons and lanterns can travel away from where they were released, meaning the person releasing them cannot control where they will land. Marine Conservation Society beach-clean data recorded balloon litter at 39% of its beach cleans in 2025.

Balloons can be swallowed by wildlife or become tangled around animals. Lantern frames can also cause entanglement or injury if they are encountered by wildlife or livestock. Flying lanterns use an open flame and can present a fire risk when they come back down.

Flytipping

What is flytipping?

Flytipping is the illegal dumping of waste on land that is not authorised to receive it.

It can take many forms, from a few bags of household rubbish being dumped beside a road to much larger amounts of domestic, commercial or construction waste being left on land.  Flytipping is a criminal offence and everyone in Scotland is subject to Duty of Care, which requires anyone handling waste to manage it responsibly, ensuring safe storage, transfer to authorised persons, and proper documentation to protect the environment and public health, both of which are under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 

What does flytipping look like? 

Flytipping can include things such as:

• Black bags or household rubbish left where they should not be
• Mattresses or sofas dumped outdoors
• Fridges and other electrical appliances
• Building materials such as plasterboard, bricks or rubble
• Garden or construction waste
• Large amounts of waste dumped from a vehicle

You may have seen a sofa left outside a property or a mattress dumped beside a block of flats. These can be examples of flytipping if the waste has been illegally deposited.

 What is the difference between littering and flytipping?

Littering and flytipping are both illegal.

Littering generally involves someone throwing, dropping or leaving items in a public place.

Flytipping is the illegal deposit of waste on land that is not authorised to receive it. This can include anything from household waste to large amounts of commercial or construction waste.

The penalties are also different. In Scotland, a Fixed Penalty Notice for littering is £80, while the current Fixed Penalty Notice for flytipping is £500. More serious flytipping offences can result in prosecution, imprisonment and fines of up to £40,000.

Where can flytipping happen?

Flytipping can happen almost anywhere.

Common locations can include:

• Roadsides and laybys
• Pavements and communal areas
• Beaches and coastal areas
• Fields and woodlands
• Remote or unused land
• Industrial areas

Why does it matter?

Flytipping doesn't just look unpleasant. It can have serious consequences for people, wildlife, communities and the environment.

It can be dangerous:
Dumped waste may contain sharp objects, chemicals, asbestos or other hazardous materials.

It can harm the environment:
Waste can pollute land and water, damage habitats and remain in the environment for long periods.

It can be expensive:
Cleaning up flytipping costs money for local authorities, landowners and other organisations. That is money that could otherwise be spent elsewhere.

It can harm wildlife:
Animals can become trapped, injured or poisoned by dumped waste, or mistake waste for food.

Further information about preventing flytipping can be found on our Preventing Waste page. For information about reporting flytipping, this can be found on our Responsibilities page.