Two new Community Clean Up hubs for East Lothian
We have established two new litter picking hubs in East Lothian, supporting local communities to tackle litter issues and keep Scotland beautiful.
Polling published in our Scottish Litter Survey earlier this month shows that 88% of people believe that litter is a problem nationally, but that there is a clear appetite for greater action to tackle and prevent litter in Scotland.
The two new hubs, joining over 60 across Scotland, will host litter picking equipment that will be available for individuals and groups to borrow, following strict social distancing and safety guidance, so that they can help take action to prevent the looming litter emergency.
Both selected hubs are already very active supporting community and employee litter picking activities. They are:
Each hub has been provided with a kit, purchased from Helping Hand Environmental, containing ten litter pickers, gloves, bag hoops and hi vis vests to allow people to take part in either individual or group litter picks. The community will also be able to access posters and social media content to help encourage people to look after their local places.
The new hubs have been made possible thanks to the support and sponsorship of one of our Charity Trustees, Stuart McKill who lives in North Berwick. Stuart commented: “Having seen the negative impact of litter on our communities I was inspired by those groups which have collectively worked to clean up their own neighbourhoods.
Providing clean up kits for two new hubs in East Lothian has enabled me to support those who want to see a cleaner Scotland and I hope that these new hubs are well used as we all work together to make the places we care about more beautiful.”
Barry Fisher, our Chief Executive said: “Unfortunately, a minority of people behave in an irresponsible and selfish manner, dropping their rubbish, leaving it for others to clean up and spoiling our beautiful country.
“By creating a network of hubs across Scotland we are striving to empower local communities who are frustrated by litter. The equipment provided at these two new litter picking hubs will be available for people to use to tackle litter in the areas they care about and help us to Clean Up Scotland.
“With the Scottish Government currently consulting on a new National Litter and Flytipping Strategy for Scotland there has never been a better time to take action on litter or have #YourSayOnLitter.”
Emily Burton, Conservation Officer, Scottish Seabird Centre said: “We’re thrilled to be joining the Keep Scotland Beautiful network of Community Clean Up Hubs! The equipment provided will help us to organise more clean up events and provide easier access to kit for local individuals and groups. Not only is a cleaner coastline great for people, but clean ups also help to protect our amazing marine wildlife and habitats, helping to safeguard wild places for future generations.”
Kate Miller from Caledonian Horticulture said: “We are delighted to become one of the first Community Clean Up Hubs in East Lothian and to be able to offer the local community the equipment needed to tackle the issue of littering across our county. In the New Year we hope to organise a number of clean up events that will make good use of the new equipment kindly provided by Keep Scotland Beautiful.”
Further detail of these, and the other hubs across Scotland, can be found on the Clean Up Scotland website: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/cleanupmap/
16 December 2021
