Glasgow Tops KSB Chart for Community Litter Picks

Published: 23 May 2023

Glasgow's amazing Neighbourhood Improvement Volunteers have helped the city be named top in Scotland for community litter picks.

Keep Scotland Beautiful has praised the city, its brilliant Neighbourhood Improvement Volunteers (NIVs), residents, schools and businesses for taking part in over 500 community litter picks during Spring Clean Scotland 2023.

The city's NIVs helped Glasgow clinch the title by staging clean-ups in their neighbourhoods supported by the council who supply equipment and remove the bags of collected rubbish.

Around 525 events took place in the city between March 17th and April 2nd - they included litter picks by individuals, schools, community groups and local businesses.

Glasgow City Council has almost 550 enthusiastic NIVs who stage regular litter picks in their own neighbourhoods. The city also has a growing network of Community Litter Picking Hubs where people can borrow equipment for free.

The hubs are in venues like community centres, schools, coffee shops and neighbourhood projects and are stocked full of equipment needed to hold a litter pick.

An online map is helping businesses, community groups and neighbourhood volunteers find their nearest location to access the equipment.

The indoor hubs were jointly funded by Glasgow City Council, Keep Scotland Beautiful and McDonald's. They are being complemented by an outdoor pilot project which is underway in Knightswood, and  Possilpark,

The top five local authorities praised by KSB for holding the highest number of community litter picks during Spring Clean Scotland were:-

• Glasgow (525 litter picks)               
• Renfrewshire (317)
• Dumfries & Galloway (240)
• Falkirk (132)
• North Lanarkshire (100)

Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Glasgow's Convener for Neighbourhood Services and Assets, said: "Huge congratulations and thanks to all the amazing volunteers who helped the city come top in Keep Scotland Beautiful Spring Clean initiative. We have an extremely active army of Neighbourhood Improvement Volunteers who work in partnership with the council to keep their communities looking their best. Their enthusiasm and community pride is truly commendable and the new litter picking hubs have been a great success - making it easier for people to hold events which bring neighbours together, boost community spirit and improve the appearance of residential areas. I'm particularly pleased that so many young people are getting involved and doing their bit for their community.

"Only by working in partnership together, can the council and residents keep the city looking its best."

The Keep Scotland Beautiful report says: "We would like to thank all our volunteers and supporters who took part in Spring Clean Scotland this year. Without the efforts of community groups, individuals, businesses and local authorities, our Spring Clean would not have been such a resounding success!"

The KSB report can be viewed here.

An interactive map showing the locations of Glasgow's litter picking hubs can be found on the council's website at hub locations.

Email CommsafetyNIES@glasgow.gov.uk to find out more about how you can become a Neighbourhood Improvement Volunteer in your area.