Colin Smyth MSP
NEWS FROM DG LABOUR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2016
Colin Smyth MSP says “Give your litter a lift, take it home”
Local MSP backs campaign to tackle Scotland’s roadside litter shame
Colin Smyth MSP has given his backing to environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful and the national campaign to clean up Scotland’s roadsides. With 88% of Scottish adults agreeing that roadside litter creates a negative impression of Scotland, the campaign aims to tackle the behaviour which is ruining the view for visitors and domestic road users alike. Photograph attached showing Colin with campaign mascots.
Recent litter monitoring by the charity has revealed that over 96% of Scotland’s main roads and iconic routes are affected by litter. In addition, during 2016, 52% of Scottish adults have seen someone throw litter from a vehicle and not pick it up. The campaign is urging road users to take personal responsibility for their litter, encouraging them to give their litter a lift, and take it home.
Colin Smyth MSP said:
“It may sound simple but litter is a hugely damaging to our communities. It’s not just the visual damage it does, in a region where attracting visitors is crucial to the economy, but it costs the local council hundreds of thousands of pounds a year, cleaning and destroying litter.
That’s why I’m working with Keep Scotland Beautiful to raise awareness of the benefit of not dropping litter- especially on the road side. It will save money, improves our countryside and above all simply helps keep our area looking as good as it can be.
I encourage everyone to think before they drop litter from their cars, and instead keep it with you until you can dispose of it safely in a bin.”
Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said:
“As a direct response to our country’s roadside litter problem, we have launched this campaign with a wide range of stakeholders including industry, the public sector and charities, and we are very grateful for Colin’s support. We recognise that to tackle this disgusting and illegal habit, we all need to work in partnership, to raise awareness of the problem of throwing litter from a vehicle, and to trial innovative solutions to change current littering behaviours.
“The message is simple – give your litter a lift, take it home!”
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said:
“VisitScotland aims to make Scotland a sustainable destination through promoting environmental accreditation and practices to all tourism businesses. We welcome the launch of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s new campaign to cut down the amount of litter on our roadsides and to help ensure that this country remains a hugely attractive destination to visitors from all over the world.”