The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Rogue Angus firms to face internet shaming
Photo activists aim to highlight ‘grotspots’ where businesses don’t clean up
Angus businesses risk being named and shamed by anti-litter campaigners.
A newly-formed pressure group will be targeting so-called “grotspots” to highlight the litter, fly-tipping and dog fouling which blighting the county.
Angus Litter Through The Lens has been set up “to bring like-minded folk together to bring about change through the use of photography”.
Businesses that fail to clean up are in the is firing line and could end up on social media.
“Over the next few weeks and months as our group’s numbers grow, we will monitor, photograph and document litter around local businesses and other areas,” said organiser Ralph Coutts. “We will also report it to Angus Council and I would call on anyone who shares these frustrations to join our group.”
Dealing with litter and fly-tipping costs more than £1 million of public money a week in Scotland.
Angus businesses that fail to clean up now risk being named and shamed by anti-litter campaigners.
A newly-formed pressure group will be targeting ‘grotspots’ to highlight the litter, fly-tipping and dog fouling which is blighting the county.
“Angus Litter Through The Lens” will also be out in force to highlight businesses that don’t take their responsibilities seriously.
Organiser Ralph Coutts said: “I’ve always believed a photo has more gravity than words alone.
“I recently took my camera out and walked within a mile and half of my house in St Vigeans and had my head in my hands at the amount of litter around local businesses in Arbroath.
“I wanted to reach out to other litter groups in Angus to bring like-minded folk together to bring change about through the use of photography.”
Mr Coutts said the group will post useful apps and links to Angus Council’s Accessline and wants to work toward finding shared solutions to the problem.
“We want businesses to complement the work being done by community groups,” said Mr Coutts, who is also a member of the St Vigeans Conservation Network.
“I feel businesses need to care more for the environment they work in and around and need to spell out to their staff and customers the benefit of a litter-free environment by proper means of disposal and maybe even a daily clean up around their business to support work already being done by council workers and community groups.
“As our group’s numbers grow we will monitor, photograph and document litter. We will also report it to Angus Council and I would call on anyone who shares these frustrations to join us.”
Communities across Angus are waging war on litter and Arbroath hosted the first community-led litter summit in Scotland in November.
A spokesman for Angus Council said: “People can report incidents of littering to us via our online enquiries and requests form and there is also information about the Adopt A Street initiative which was launched at the recent litter summit and the equipment that is available from us.”
We will monitor, photograph and document litter. RALPH COUTTS