Litter-picking hubs to make a difference

A NETWORK of litter-picking hubs has been launched across Dundee.

As part of the ongoing Take Pride in Your City campaign, Dundee City Council is working in partnership with local community groups and Keep Scotland Beautiful.

The council is providing free litterpicking equipment, including pickers, bag hoops and hi-vis vests, for up to 10 people who want to tackle litter in their area.

The Friends of Linlathen Group, working in partnership with the Mid-lin Day Care Centre, and the Douglas Community Spaces Group, are the first two groups to become hosts to one of the hubs.

More are planned to be introduced in the city in the coming months.

Climate, environment and biodiversity convener Councillor Heather Anderson said: “I’m sure, like me, you wish everyone would dispose of their waste responsibly.

“However, despite all of the positive work we do to prevent littering in the first place, some people still need more encouragement.

“The Take Pride in Your City campaign is about creating a collaborative approach to keeping our shared outdoor spaces clean, tidy and presentable.

“These new litter hubs are a great way to encourage people to work in partnership to tackle local litter issues and it’s great to see the enthusiasm of those involved in these initial litter-picking hubs.

“With more litter-picking hubs planned throughout the city, anyone who wants to take part is encouraged to get in touch with their local hub to get involved. Your support is greatly appreciated.”

The secretary of the Friends of Linlathen added: “I think this is a very positive initiative by Dundee City Council and the Friends of Linlathen are very much supportive of this.

“We believe that, if people invest themselves in their own community in small ways such as, keeping their streets clean, ensuring their children don’t drop litter etc, this leads to a greater sense of responsibility to do the right thing.

“It enhances their own lived-in environment and reduces expectations that ‘someone else will do that’ or ‘it’s what I pay my council tax for’.

“Friends of Linlathen exist to make our community an even better place to live and small steps such as this can go a long way to achieving this aim.

“We are very grateful to Mid-lin day centre for supporting a litter hub in their yard in the heart of Linlathen.

“We are having our first litter pick on Saturday June 1 on national big lunch day, at the start of volunteering week.

“We hope Linlathen families will come out, help for an hour and then enjoy free food and activities between 11am and 2pm at Mid-lin.”

COMMUNITY: The first two litter-picking hubs have been launched in Dundee.