Tackling litter to improve the places where we walk

Unfortunately, it’s all too common to see litter in the places we walk.

Litter isn’t just an eyesore; it’s also damaging for the environment and dangerous for children, pets and wildlife – and it can prevent people from walking or wheeling.

Living Streets Scotland has been working with the community in South Lanarkshire to explore ways to improve walking and wheeling in the local area – and litter kept coming up as a problem. 

WHAT'S THE STORY?

Living Streets Scotland carried out street audits of the area and consultations with local people to see what could be done to improve the area for walking and wheeling. Litter was identified as a significant barrier to people getting out and about. 

To tackle this, we organised a litter-picking event with pupils from Larkhall Academy where the growing rubbish was preventing people from accessing the nearby nature reserve.

The group spent an afternoon collecting litter outside the school and at the entrance of the nature reserve and collected 10 bags of rubbish that were dropped off to the council later that day.

We also delivered a lesson on the impact the build up of litter is having on local residents and why keeping your local area tidy supports walking and wheeling.

We’re continuing to work with students at Larkhall Academy to explore how we can encourage more people to pick up their litter and we hope to deliver more litter picks in the future.