People in Renfrewshire are being encouraged to get their walking boots on for a series of community litter picks next month.
Spotless September will see communities come together to clean up their areas and promote positive attitudes about the place they live.
Businesses, community groups, schools and lone volunteers are being asked to get involved with the drive to improve the local environment.
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Run by Renfrewshire Council’s award-winning Team Up to Clean Up campaign, last September’s event saw 430 litter picks take place and more than 2,500 bags of litter collected.
Elaine McKeown volunteers in and around Paisley and is looking forward to this year's big clean-up.
She said: “I started to get involved with Team Up to Clean Up during lockdown when I would go on lovely walks and would notice the litter left by people.
“There is so much packaging out there and it’s sad that a minority of people seem to think it’s okay to drop it with no thought to how long it will stay there, how it could affect wildlife and who needs to pick it up.
“Whether you want to go out on your own, with a friend or would like to meet like-minded people, Spotless September is a great time to join the campaign as you really feel you’re making a difference and it keeps you fit and active too.
“It’s a fun community to be part of and the other volunteers are a lovely crowd – so join us on by taking part in a litter pick.”
Participants will be provided with litter pickers and bags, and the rubbish will be taken away by the Council’s StreetScene team from a pre-agreed spot.
Volunteers are encouraged to take part as often as they can, whether that’s ten minutes round the block or an hour in a park.
Councillor Michelle Campbell, convener of Renfrewshire Council's Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “We know that people in Renfrewshire take a real pride in where they live and want to change the behaviour of those people who think it’s okay to litter.
“Almost 4,000 like-minded people are part of our Facebook group and work together with us to make a real difference to the local environment by having pride in our local communities... This connection makes the difference when people visit and live in such welcoming spaces.
“We want to emulate the success of Spotless September last year, and the Big Spring Clean in April too, so please take the time to head out on a litter pick this month and be an inspiration in your community.”
Team Up to Clean Up is a joint initiative between the council and the community.
The campaign has expanded to include community caddies, which allow volunteers to trim and tidy local green spaces, as well as the creation of children’s book ‘The Clumps’ Big Mess’ which every primary school child in Renfrewshire received to inspire them to be a part of the campaign.
For more information on the campaign, including how to take part, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/SpotlessSeptember
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