Upstream Battle data day on the Clyde

Members of our Campaigns team had their annual data gathering day recently, surveying along the River Clyde as part of our Upstream Battle campaign, which focuses on tackling the marine litter problem from #Source2Sea.   

Five #TeamKSB members managed to survey a 2km stretch of the River Clyde, from Rutherglen Bridge to Dalmarnock Bridge. Last year the team surveyed the same area and identified a problem with food and drink packaging litter and have since worked with Glasgow City Council to install signage and bin wraps to encourage people to "Enjoy it on the way... Bin it on the go". With the messaging still present the team wanted to gather data to measure any impact.  

A total of 20 Upstream Battle surveys were carried out, collecting five full bags of rubbish along the way. A seal was even spotted in the Clyde! The surveys were carried out by walking 100m alongside the river and recording how much litter was found and of what type.  

A total of 648 items were counted. The top three items found were snack packets, drinks cans and plastic pieces, accounting for 322 of the total counted.

The findings are similar to last year, where drinks cans and snack packets were both in the top two littered items, but plastic bottles were number three. This year the average number of items found over 100m was 32, a decrease of almost 50% compared to last year.

There was a decrease in the number of plastic bottles found this year (one per 100m compared to nine, on average, last year) and an increase in plastic lids and caps from takeaway coffee cups and plastic bottles, with 26 being found in total, making it the fifth most littered item, whereas last year it was not even in the top 10.  
 
Alongside common littered items, there was also some unusual finds including a tricycle, raw pork ribs and a glass plate from a microwave.

There were some interesting new trends, including: 

• Around 15 sport energy pouches were surveyed - this part of the Clyde walkway is popular with runners and cyclists.  

• 2024's surveys found 19 cigarette butts which is almost one per 100m. In comparison to last year when only one cigarette butt was found across 700m.  

• There was decrease in vapes – in 2023 we found four vapes over 700m, whereas this year we only found two vapes over 2000m.  

• Festive takeaway cups were also a common littered item.  

By March 2025 we would like to have collected over 100 litter surveys across Scotland, which will help us to continue to build Scotland’s first comprehensive river litter data-set and publish another National Citizen Science Report.

Fiona Gallie, our Campaigns and Interventions Officer, said: “We had a great day collecting data and litter picking along the Clyde, but I was still struck by the problem and how these items could end up in our seas. On a positive note, it was good to see there was a drop in the number of littered items per 100m compared to last year, but we still need to continue work to make a bigger difference.

"Last year we were delighted to work with so many different community groups, businesses and individuals to gather over 200 surveys across Scotland and to publish our Citizen Science Report. We are looking forward to working with old and new communities during this period of the campaign.” 
 
You can help us by collecting data along waterways and rivers near you. Find out more about Upstream Battle and how to get involved.