Moray SNP News

Moray's MSP says 'Give your litter a lift, take it home'

Richard Lochhead backs campaign to tackle Scotland’s roadside litter shame

Richard Lochhead MSP has given his backing to environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful and the national campaign to clean up Scotland’s roadsides.  With 88% of Scottish adults agreeing that roadside litter creates a negative impression of Scotland, the campaign aims to tackle the behaviour which is ruining the view for visitors and domestic road users alike. Photograph attached showing Richard Lochhead with campaign mascots outside the Scottish Parliament.

Recent litter monitoring by the charity has revealed that over 96% of Scotland’s main roads and iconic routes are affected by litter.  In addition, during 2016, 52% of Scottish adults have seen someone throw litter from a vehicle and not pick it up. The campaign is urging road users to take personal responsibility for their litter, encouraging them to give their litter a lift, and take it home. 

Mr Lochhead said:

“Moray is a beautiful place but it can often be spoiled by roadside litter and I know that many constituents are incredibly fed up of others making their communities look untidy.

“It’s astonishing that more than half of Scottish adults have witnessed someone throw litter from their car and then fail to pick it up.  Having been involved in local efforts to clean up our communities and having recently helped set up Moray’s litter forum, I’m delighted to get behind Keep Scotland Beautiful’s campaign to tackle behaviour which is spoiling our roadsides.

“We can all play our part in keeping Moray’s roadsides litter free and I would encourage all road users locally to give their litter a lift and take it home.” 

Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said:

“As a direct response to our country’s roadside litter problem, we have launched this campaign with a wide range of stakeholders including industry, the public sector and charities, and we are very grateful for Richard Lochhead’s support.  We recognise that to tackle this disgusting and illegal habit, we all need to work in partnership, to raise awareness of the problem of throwing litter from a vehicle, and to trial innovative solutions to change current littering behaviours.

“The message is simple - give your litter a lift, take it home!”

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said:

“VisitScotland aims to make Scotland a sustainable destination through promoting environmental accreditation and practices to all tourism businesses. We welcome the launch of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s new campaign to cut down the amount of litter on our roadsides and to help ensure that this country remains a hugely attractive destination to visitors from all over the world.”