Clean teams join forces for summer litter pick campaign

Council backs Keep Scotland Beautiful’s mission

Hundreds of volunteers are set to continue their fantastic litter picking in Renfrewshire as the Team Up to Clean Up campaign joins forces with Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Summer Clean 2021.

Taking place from May 28 to June 20, volunteers are being urged to grab a bin bag and take part in litter picks across their community as the national environmental charity joins its UK counterparts in pledging to litter pick a million miles as part of the #MillionMileMission.

Helpers will pledge an amount of time they will commit to cleaning up their area and this will be converted into miles and contribute to the overall target, which so far sits at almost 700,000 miles.

Heather McLaughlin, campaigns officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We are delighted that Renfrewshire’s Team Up to Clean Up campaign is supporting our Summer Clean this year.

“Across the UK we have an ambitious target to litter pick a million miles, and the hard work of volunteers in Renfrewshire will help us to achieve this, whilst also keeping Scotland beautiful.

“The last 14 months have really shown us how important are local green spaces are to both our mental and physical health so we’d like to thank everyone who has already pledged to clean up their local area this summer, and encourage anyone who hasn’t yet to get involved and make a difference – you won’t regret it.”

With more than 1,450 volunteers taking part in 1,117 litter picks since January this year, which more than 4,350 bags of litter removed from the local environment, Renfrewshire’s inspiring volunteers are set to excel.

Councillor Cathy McEwan, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy board, said: “In what has been the most difficult year, this campaign has continued to go from strength to strength.

“I’m so proud of the work that is ongoing to make Renfrewshire a cleaner, greener place to live.

“I can’t wait to get out there to support Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Summer Clean and I hope that as many of our Renfrewshire volunteers as possible can join me.

“With the target of reaching a million miles of litter picking across the UK, I’m sure that Renfrewshire will play its part in reaching this fantastic environmental goal.”

The local authority wi l l continue to provide support for the volunteers by providing litter pickers, bags, hoops, safety equipment and collecting the bags of litter after each litter pick too.

All volunteers are reminded to follow the current covid restrictions in place, including the limits on meeting others outdoors, and should only take part if it is safe to do so.

Support for the Summer Clean 2021 comes in place of the area’s annual Big Spring Clean, which had to be postponed due to the ongoing restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

For more information, visit www. renfrewshire. gov. uk/ teamuptocleanup

I’m so proud of the work that is ongoing to make Renfrewshire a cleaner, greener place to live