Collaborating for a common goal - a litter free Scotland

In an effort to tackle Scotland’s litter emergency it is essential for sectors to come together to collaborate and support each other in improving data collection and cleaning up both on land and water.

Recently we've been encouraging volunteers we work with to take part in the Marine Conservation Society 2024 Great British Beach Clean which took place 20 September – 29 September. This is an annual campaign aimed to mobilise volunteers to take part in beach cleans, while also collecting data from all around the UK on the types of litter at our beaches. Across 19 local authorities 38 events were registered by Keep Scotland Beautiful supporters, with almost 500 people taking part in a litter picking event at a beach.  

Our own campaigns team also joined the clean-up efforts.  Campaign and Innovations Manager, Heather McLaughin attended a clean up with The GRAB Trust in Arrochar.  She said, “The collaborative effort that annual campaigns such as the Great British Beach Clean inspires is crucial to addressing the pressing issue of litter. Earlier this year we showed through our own Spring Clean Scotland campaign what collaboration can achieve and we're proud to support Marine Conservation Society with its campaign.”

The Great British Beach Clean and Spring Clean Scotland are annual events that occur months apart, but both share the goal of driving change for a cleaner, greener more sustainable future for Scotland.

Heather added, “We want to thank all of our followers and supporters who joined a beach clean during this year’s campaign. Scotland’s beaches are beautiful, with many of them being recognised by us with Scotland's Beach Awards, and these campaigns are important to ensure that beauty is preserved for future generations”

If you're passionate about doing your bit here are some ideas on how to get involved and take action:

• Every time you visit your favourite beach, pick up a piece of litter and dispose of it appropriately - you can join the global #2minutebeachclean movement.
• Join our Clean Up Scotland campaign and register your own big litter clean up or #2minutecleanup
• Take part in Spring Clean Scotland 2025 - the dates are confirmed!
• Take part in the Great British Beach Clean 2025
• Take action to reduce plastic pollution and get involved with campaigns such as The Great Nurdle Hunt, The Cotton Bud Project or Beat the Microbead

You can also support our Upstream Battle® campaign which focuses on changing littering behaviour to prevent marine litter at source along rivers across Scotland.  We'll be re working along rivers and their tributaries to raise awareness, gather evidence and inspire action very soon.  Keep an eye out for updates.