Tag: litter

Takeaway cup recycling made easier in Edinburgh

Recycling takeaway cups in Edinburgh is now easier thanks to a collaborative scheme Keep Scotland Beautiful has launched with the National Cup Recycling Scheme and City of Edinburgh Council.

Dedicated cup bins will be deployed on Market Street, Waverley Bridge and outside Haymarket Station to collect single-use cups in a new trial to test the effectiveness of on-street cup recycling and see if it is possible to boost the number of cups being recycled in Scotland – currently 4% – and prevent them from ending up as litter or in landfill.  

Furthermore, the partners have teamed up with retailers including Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero, Greggs and McDonald’s to launch Take It Back in Edinburgh. 

This is the first time our Cup Movement campaign has taken place in Edinburgh and will build on the previous success and learnings of trials in Glasgow and Dundee. 

More than 30 stores in Edinburgh are participating in Take It Back, allowing customers to take a single-use cup back to any of the above retailers to be recycled.  

Heather McLaughlin, Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Campaigns Manager, said: “Single-use cups make up a huge percentage of the items polluting Scotland’s environment. 

“More than half of people in Scotland (59%) often see littered single-use cups. In Edinburgh alone a recent bin audit of on-street bins outside Waverley Station found that single-use cups made up 59% of the drinks waste. 

“The reality is that these single-use products are already ending up as litter. We need to address our over consumption of single-use products and make an effort to choose reusable options. 

“However, we know that reuse is not always possible or practical. This scheme will make it easier for people who use single-use cups to ensure they are recycled properly.” 

Hannah Osman, National Cup Recycling Manager at Valpak Ltd, said: “Transport hubs are some of the highest footfall locations in Scotland, and we know from our data that a significant volume of single-use cups are consumed on the go.  

“By targeting key commuter routes, this trial allows us to test how dedicated infrastructure in the right locations can capture more material and significantly increase recycling rates. 

“Through this partnership, we’re using real-time data and evidence from previous trials to understand what works, measure contamination levels, track capture rates, and build a scalable model for on-street cup recycling. 

“The goal is simple: make cup recycling visible, convenient and data-driven so it can be rolled out effectively across other cities in Scotland and beyond.” 

Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, City of Edinburgh Council’s Environment Convener, said: “Increasing recycling rates in the city is one of our key priorities. 

“It’s important we support targeted projects like this to make it easier for people to dispose of takeaway cups, which have become so popular in recent years and the prominent locations of these three new dedicated bins will hopefully do that. 

“I’d also always encourage residents and visitors buying a regular cuppa to wherever possible take their own cup into takeaway stores to cut down on the need to use the disposable ones at all.” 

Typical single-use hot drink cups cannot go into standard recycling bins or be recycled at home. To avoid cups ending up in landfill, it is really important to #TakeItBack.  So, even if you forget your reusable cup, you can still help reduce the negative environmental impact of single-use cups if you #TakeItBack. 

Find the participating Edinburgh stores on our interactive map.

Read more on our website and remember to #TakeItBack next time you’re in Edinburgh: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/…/takeaway-cup…/

Arthur’s Seat Fire: experts warn of glass bottle fire risk

Sunday’s wildfire at Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat, was thought to have been started by ‘human activity’. While this could be a range of things, one possible reason could be discarded litter.

Glass waste experts at BusinessWaste.co.uk warn locals that discarded litter, particularly glass, left in direct sunlight and near grass, can ignite and spread quickly. To help reduce the risk of more fires, they are urging locals to carefully dispose of empty glass bottles to prevent fires. 

What’s the risk?

Wildfires are on the rise, with research finding that by April 2025, the UK had already surpassed records for the area of land burnt by wildfires.

So far this year there have been 175 fires, burning an area of over 40,000 hectares – that’s an area more than twice the size of the city of Glasgow.

Fires like these are becoming more common due to climate change. One study found that human-induced climate change makes the dangerous conditions needed for wildfires at least six times more likely.

Why is glass waste an issue?

Glass waste, specifically any that’s clear or curved like drinks bottles, can act as a magnifying glass in direct sunlight and start fires. The magnifying effect of glass can project the sun’s rays onto dry material like grass, wood, or paper. When this reaches a certain temperature it can ignite a fire. Combine this with dry and windy conditions, and fires spread quickly.

While this may sound an unlikely combination of factors, it’s more common than many people realise. For example, a fire in the Peak District in May was attributed to discarded bottles, and a similar situation was seen on the Isle of Arran in April. 

Outside of wildfires, glass also poses a risk in the home. Residents should be careful when disposing of glass into open top bins, especially when combined with other combustible materials found in dry mixed recycling, such as paper and cardboard. Alongside this, a single glass bottle left on dry garden grass could be enough to start a fire. 

Beyond the obvious risk to health and life, wildfires, especially those that burn the UK’s moorland, can be ecologically devastating. They can wipe out whole ecosystems and make local areas more prone to future flooding. 

How should you dispose of glass?

If you take any glass bottles with you to open outdoor spaces, you should always take them home with you. Never leave glass exposed in direct sunlight for long periods of time, especially alongside dry vegetation and materials like paper and cardboard. 

Glass should always be recycled. Waste glass is a valuable resource that can be constantly recycled into new glass products. If glass is sent to landfill, the raw material is lost and more must be mined to create new products. Recycling glass saves up to 30% of the energy compared to making new glass from raw materials.

What to do if you spot a fire

First, ensure you get yourself and anyone you are with to safety. Once you have done so, call 999 to report the fire. Try to give as much detailed information as you can about the location – What3Words can be helpful to pinpoint fires. Never attempt to put out a wildfire yourself, as these types of fires can behave erratically. 

What are the consequences if your litter leads to a fire?

If your litter causes a fire, and you left this ‘deliberately’ or ‘recklessly’, this might be classed as arson5 under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. This could result in a criminal record, unlimited fines, and even a prison sentence. 

Littering itself can see you issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £500, or a fine in court of up to £2,500.

Graham Matthews, glass waste expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, said: “Many people aren’t aware of the danger discarded glass poses. But as the weather heats up, it’s essential that the public are careful with all waste.

“We know that climate change is only escalating the risk of wildfires across the UK, and we have seen many concerning instances of just a single glass bottle being responsible for burning huge swathes of the countryside. 

“We urge people to be responsible and considerate with any glass waste, both in and outside the home. You should always take your litter with you regardless, but the consequences are so much higher in hot, dry weather.

“While leaving glass bottles unattended or littered may seem like a simple moment of carelessness, the lasting impact on our environment can be huge.”

Bin Your Gum!

In partnership with environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, who has awarded a grant of £25K to the Council, a Chewing Gum Task Force is cleaning up gum and reducing gum littering on the Capital.

 Cllr Stephen Jenkinson Environment Convener said: This grant is very welcome as gum takes about five years to break down and is costly to remove.

“Our task force is starting in busy areas and in the next couple of weeks we are concentrating on removing discarded gum on Leith Street. It’s important that we get the message out that it is not OK to drop gum in our beautiful city and we’re putting up effective signage to try to prevent littering in the future.

“I’d like to ask all of our residents and visitors to support this campaign and please bin your gum.”

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, said: “Chewing gum litter is highly visible on our high streets and is both difficult and expensive to clean up, so the support for councils provided by the Chewing Gum Task Force and the gum manufacturers is very welcome. 

“However, once the gum has been cleaned up, it is vital to remind the public that when it comes to litter, whether it’s gum or anything else, there is only one place it should be – in the bin – and that is why the behaviour change element of the task force’s work is so important.”

The council is one of 54 across the country that has successfully applied to the Chewing Gum Task Force, now in its third year, for funds to clean gum off pavements and prevent it from being littered again. 

Established by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Scheme is open to councils across the UK who wish to clean up gum in their local areas and invest in long-term behaviour change to prevent gum from being dropped in the first place.  

Estimates suggest the annual clean-up cost of chewing gum for councils in the UK is around £7 million. In its second year the task force awarded 55 councils a total of £1.56 million, helping clean an estimated 440,000 m2 of pavement – an area equivalent to the Vatican City. 

By combining targeted street cleaning with specially designed signage to encourage people to bin their gum, participating councils achieved reductions in gum littering of up to 60% in the first two months.

Friends of Pilrig Park: Summer’s Here!

We love to see folk out enjoying the lovely weather, but please remember not to BBQ directly on the grass, and to dispose of any BBQs and other waste responsibly.

There are BBQ bins and general waste bins at the park exits. Please use them! If they’re full, then don’t just dump it – take your rubbish home or use the next available public bin. Thanks!!

Tackling the environmental impact of disposable vapes

Zero Waste Scotland delivers Government-commissioned review

Up to 26 million disposable vapes were consumed and thrown away in Scotland in the last year, of which an estimated 10 per cent were littered and more than half were incorrectly disposed of, according to a new report.

The Scottish Government commissioned Zero Waste Scotland to carry out a review of the environmental impact of single use vapes and potential policy options for addressing the problems that they cause.

The review estimates that in the year ending January 2023, there were 543,000 vapers in Scotland – of which 51,000 (9%) were under 16 and 78,000 (14%) were under 18. Most under 18 e-cigarette users prefer single use vapes.

Environmental impacts highlighted by the review include the waste impact of littering; risks associated with unsafe disposal of their contents; and greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption generated in their manufacture.

Total emissions associated with disposable vapes in 2022 are estimated to have been up to 4,292 tonnes CO2e – the equivalent of around 2,100 cars on Scotland’s roads. The lithium batteries used in the most popular disposable vapes could be recharged up to 500 times if the product design allowed.

Lorna Slater, Minister for Circular Economy, Green Skills and Biodiversity said: “This report shows that single use vapes have become a big problem – for our environment, local communities and young people.

“I will take action and will engage with those affected, including young people, over the coming months, with a view to setting out a way forward in the Autumn.

“Single use vapes are an issue across the UK, so I have invited Ministers from the other UK governments to meet to discuss the findings of the report and what we can do in response.

“Those who sell single use vapes are already required to take them back for safe disposal, or contribute to the cost of recycling, but this is clearly not happening as it should. I will therefore write to the UK Minister responsible to share our findings and to ask what they will do to ensure these obligations are met.”

The report shortlists nine potential measures to address environmental impacts of single use e-cigarettes, including a ban on sales, regulations to set certain design criteria, and charges to encourage behaviour change or producer fees to offset the environmental costs, such as a levy based on recycling rates. The report assesses the potential of each option for reducing environmental impact and the benefits of multiple measures in combination.

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland said: “Any form of littering is unacceptable – it damages the environment, economy, and is a blight on the areas where we live, work, and socialise.

“Single use vapes are made up of components which, unless disposed of safely and responsibly, can last on our planet for years and years. And the sight of them, discarded on our streets, is becoming far too common.

“This is why Zero Waste Scotland was happy to lead on this important report. Tackling our throwaway culture is a priority for us and we will continue to work with the Scottish Government in highlighting the huge impact that littering these items has on the environment.”

Zero Waste Scotland report

Thousands won by winners tackling the litter emergency

More than £2,000 has been won by people across Scotland who are helping to tackle the litter emergency.

Keep Scotland Beautiful’s innovative partnership with behaviour change app LitterLotto recently passed the halfway mark and, to date, the charity has had 11 winners who have shared £2,400 with prizes ranging from £50 to £500.

Angela Breward from Fraserburgh was the first winner back in November, winning £250.

Since then we’ve had winners from all over Scotland including Glasgow, Dundee, the Highlands, Inverurie, Brechin and Inverclyde.

Lynn Seymour, James Sutherland, Bryan McMahon, Simon McGinley all also went on to win £250.

Lilly Cumming, Kirsty Murdoch and Allan Cherrie then won £50 each before the prize rocketed in the new year.

Katherine Thomas won £250 before Allan Bruce, the most recent winner, won £500.

Catherine Gee, KSB Deputy Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted to see so many people from all over Scotland being rewarded for doing the right thing through our partnership with LitterLotto.

“This collaboration is all about encouraging people to help tackle the country’s looming litter emergency and it’s brilliant to see people across the country getting involved.

“I’m looking forward to seeing many more Scottish winners benefitting from helping to keep Scotland beautiful, and with our Spring Clean due to kick off in March it is the ideal time for people to get involved in making a difference.”

Dawn, Campaign Project Manager at LitterLotto, said: “It’s great to see our Scottish users benefiting from this regional jackpot. 

“We hope that our partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful will encourage others to get involved.

“Our users help keep their communities clean and green and with LitterLotto you can win cash while doing good.”

This innovative venture is one of the many ways we are tackling the litter emergency with a national poll conducted by the environmental charity earlier this year highlighting two thirds of people believe that litter is an issue in their local area, and 87% believe that it is an issue across Scotland.

With the partnership continuing until the end of March there is still plenty of time for more people to get involved and be in with a chance of winning.

The LitterLotto app is available to download for free on the App Store and Android Store.

Visit the LitterLotto website for more information.

Community Litter Pick in Drylaw

TODAY: Sunday 10th July – meet Drylaw Skate Park 1pm

Come along and join us – we are meeting at 1pm at Drylaw skate 🛹 park!

Please wear bright/high vis clothes as we will be on the cycle path.

All equipment provided.

Keep Scotland Beautiful awards schools for fantastic climate action

Four schools and nurseries in Edinburgh recognised with Eco-Schools Green Flag Award status

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful is delighted to award four schools and nurseries in Edinburgh with an Eco-Schools Green Flag.

The international award recognises nurseries and schools which have demonstrated a commitment to the Eco-Schools Scotland programme and over two years have engaged their whole school community in local climate action.

The schools and nurseries are: Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools, Leith Primary School and Nursery Class, Nether Currie Primary School and Smilechildcare.

All the schools took part in a variety of fantastic litter-busting and climate action activities including litter picks, litter surveys, recycling and community clean ups.

Through the Eco-Schools Scotland programme, Keep Scotland Beautiful aims to make action to tackle climate change and environmental awareness an intrinsic part of the life and ethos of schools, for both pupils and for staff. The programme provides a framework to engage the wider school community in climate action aligned with the purposes of Curriculum for Excellence and Learning for Sustainability.

To complete the Green Flag journey each school has a choice of ten topics to engage with, from climate action, to food and the environment, to litter, to energy. The schools also choose one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to link their Eco-Schools work to.

Catherine Gee, Deputy Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “I’d like to congratulate the Eco-Committee, pupils and staff at each of these schools, who have stepped up to play their part in combatting climate change and achieve their Green Flag Award. 

“It’s great to hear about the progress schools have made towards their Green Flags – up and down the country, pupils and staff are working hard growing, litter picking and learning. Thousands have also engaged with our live lessons recently and the next, on Water, is coming up on 6 and 10 June.

“Keep Scotland Beautiful is committed to supporting all our children, young people and educators through our Climate Action Schools activities to develop the capacities, skills and attributes required to protect our planet and work towards our goal of a Net Zero future.”

More information about the world’s largest sustainable schools programme and Eco-Schools Scotland can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/eco-schools.

Sign up for the next live lesson and see the previous lessons here:

https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/education-and-learning/eco-schools/live-lessons/.

Spring Clean Scotland: Get involved!

Does litter bug you?  Do you want to do something about it?  This spring, environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful is calling for Scotland’s communities to join a Spring Clean challenge from 21 March-21 April to help clean up our country.

Spending more time outdoors was an unexpected benefit of lockdown. But along with our renewed appreciation of nature, many of us realised Scotland is facing a huge litter problem. Our research revealed that 88% of Scots agree that litter is a problem across Scotland. And 70% are concerned about litter in their area.

If you feel frustrated about the litter in your community or the places you visit, you can do something about it. Spring Clean Scotland is the perfect opportunity to make a difference by picking up litter on your local beach, streets, parks and beyond. Get involved and help make the places we care about cleaner and safer for people and animals.

Every action, however small, makes a difference. Just half an hour of picking up litter and disposing of it safely can help an area look cleaner and feel safer, and evidence shows it also prevents more litter being dropped. 

Why not organise a litter pick with friends, family, workmates or your wider community? Or find one to join in with on Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Clean Up Scotland map.

We know young people feel strongly about caring for the environment and want to do something about the harmful effects of litter in their communities. Your school can get involved too. As part of Spring Clean, there is a Live Lesson open to all schools across the UK.

Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful said, “Across Scotland we have seen a steady increase in the amount of litter over the past decade. While this is a real challenge, we are heartened by the incredible work of litter picking heroes up and down the country.

“Our communities already play a vital role in taking action to tackle litter, with many people giving up their time to clean up their local areas despite the challenges of the last two years.

“We would love as many people as possible to join in and give Scotland a spring clean this March and April.

“For those that wish to take further action, The Scottish Government is currently consulting on a revised National Litter and Flytipping Strategy and you can still respond until the end of March and have #YourSayOnLitter.”

Inspired to take positive action? Learn more and sign up to join in here:

www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/springclean.