Reports confirm extent of Scotland's litter crisis

Keep Scotland Beautiful has declared that the country is facing a litter emergency.

Two new reports - the Scottish Litter Survey and a ground litter survey, How clean are our streets? - both reveal the extent of the litter crisis.

The Scottish Litter Survey confirmed that 90% of those asked believe litter is a problem across the country - the "highest number since the research began".

While the latest ground litter report – How clean are our streets? – revealed that litter levels continue to significantly impact the cleanliness of streets and roads with 75% of sites being littered.

It was also revealed that two fifths (39%) of people believe that litter in general has become more common in their area in the past year.  

Barry Fisher, chief executive at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Scotland is facing a litter emergency - and there is consistent recognition of this annually. 

"The data we’ve published today only strengthens the need for positive and imminent change across all areas, from innovative behaviour change interventions, to bin provision and servicing, to enforcement and the speedy introduction of policies which we urgently need to ensure our country has a more circular economy. 

"We can’t keep saying that there is a problem.  We need to ensure we reverse the trend with consistent, collective action.

“The National Litter and Flytipping Strategy and Action Plan launched earlier this year are vital and a positive step in the right direction. 

"We remain committed to supporting the Strategy and are already seeing shifts as communities, businesses and industry step up to play their part.

“But, if we are serious about tackling this issue adequate and meaningful resourcing is needed alongside the implementation of delayed policy and proposed schemes.

“With 40% of sites recording litter types that would be covered under current Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, it is clear that any further policy delay will severely impact our ability to reverse the trend in declining environmental quality, particularly ground litter.”