Half of Scottish adults admit littering in past year

Half of Scottish adults (50%)[1] have admitted to littering in the past 12 months. 

This revelation comes ahead of #SpringCleanScotland - Scotland’s biggest mass litter picking event - which launches on 13 March.

As tens of thousands of hard-working volunteers prepare to tackle the deluge of litter which blights our parks, beaches and urban spaces these astonishing stats have been released, showing the extent of effort required to clean up Scotland.

The YouGov survey for Keep Britain Tidy as part of the Great British Spring Clean, which is delivered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful, also revealed that:  

• almost 403,000 people (9%) admit they left finished items or packaging behind after sitting down to eat or drink;
• more than 313,000 (7%) left rubbish at a train or bus stop; and
• more than 268,000 (6%) admitted throwing or dropping litter from a vehicle window.

Last year 35,000 people joined Spring Clean Scotland to help tackle the litter emergency. And we know that councils and road operators are working tirelessly to remove litter across the country too at a cost of more than £1million a week.  

Barry Fisher, our Chief Executive, said: “If 50% of adults in Scotland are admitting to the illegal act of littering in the last 12 months we have to question why.  And we must accept that people we know and love are littering – and start calling them out.

“We know what needs to be done to encourage people to bin their litter, and we understand the drivers, the need for better infrastructure, systems and support to encourage reuse.  But we desperately need more investment to ensure we address the root cause of the litter emergency

“Research carried out in Scotland almost two decades ago similarly found that 54% of respondents admitted to dropping litter,[2] so litter continues to be problematic – it’s about time we call an end to littering.”

“You may have littered, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stop.  Now is the time to change and start picking up litter rather than dropping it.  Spring Clean is your chance to take positive action.

"Gather your friends, family or colleagues and plan a litter pick that helps you improve your community, let go of any guilt you might have for past littering offences, and you will find litter picking actually makes you feel good.”

Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “We want to thank our players for their continued support in raising funds to support the Great British Spring Clean, and also the passionate Litter Heroes volunteers across the country without whom the campaign couldn’t make the impact that it does. 

"It’s inspiring to see volunteers in action protecting the local environment in communities throughout Britain, sending a strong message that we can all play a part in loving where we live and protecting nature.” 

If you are inspired to take positive action, learn more, access our tools and resources and sign up your event visit the #SpringCleanScotland web page.

[1] YouGov survey for Keep Britain Tidy.

[2] Keep Scotland Beautiful (2008) State of the Nation report