Businesses join forces to help keep city clean

Move aims to cut amount of rubbish on the streets as problems continue with new recycling scheme

Businesses are joining forces to help keep Dundee’s streets clean as problems with the recycling scheme continue.

Zero Waste Scotland is calling on organisations to play their part in changing behaviour in a bid to keep the city clean.

The Overgate and McDonald’s are the first to sign up to the scheme through which businesses agree to adopt a range of actions to prevent litter and fly-tipping.

The move comes after warnings from pest control contractors of an increased risk of vermin if problems are not ironed out quickly.

The new roll-out has resulted in rubbish piling up on the side of roads, as well as overflowing recycling bins with no space for further refuse at designated recycling points.

Actions under Zero Waste’s scheme include displaying litter prevention messages, minimising packaging and providing sufficient litter and recycling bins, as well as clearing litter from around their business premises.

Zero Waste Scotland said that as well as having a negative impact on the local environment, littering costs millions of pounds a year to clean up.

Morag Dennis, operations manager at the Overgate Shopping Centre, said: “Overgate is a big part of Dundee and we take great pride in the appearance of the centre, so when we were asked to sign up it just made sense.

“We all need to take responsibility for keeping Dundee litter free and creating a welcoming and attractive environment for visitors to our city.”

Nick McPartland, a local McDonald’s franchise owner, said :“When businesses and the community come together to tackle local issues we are able to achieve so much more, and this initiative is a perfect example of this.

“We hope by committing to this initiative we can encourage other retailers to do the same.”

David Burns from Zero Waste Scotland said: “We’re delighted that two of the major retail players in Dundee are taking the lead on tackling litter by answering our call to local businesses to draw up a prevention plan.”

He added: “We know that the litter issue is not going away, and based on our research that simply cleaning it up doesn’t work – we need to work together to stop people dropping it in the first place and keep this fantastic city looking great, which will benefit everyone.”

To sign up, businesses can visit zerowastescotland.org.uk/litter-flytipping/prevention-action-plans or email litterandflytipping@zerowastescotland.org.uk

When businesses and the community come together to tackle local issues we are able to achieve so much more... NICK MCPARTLAND