Pupils from Kinneil Primary collected 21 sacks of litter recently in their local community

Around 400 pupils from 10 local primary schools across the Falkirk area have, so far, signed up to take part in community litter picks this month as part of environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful's #SpringCleanScotland campaign.

Schools in Falkirk, Laurieston, Camelon, Carronshore, Polmont, Bo’ness, Langlees, Larbert, and Bonnybridge have all joined to tackle the blight of litter alongside various community groups.

All schools participating in Spring Clean Scotland are entered into Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Litter League competition where their efforts are then recognised at a local and national level.

Armed with black bags and litter grabbers supplied by Falkirk Council, pupils will be active throughout the campaign, running between 15th March and 28th April, to support existing efforts to tackle the litter problem locally.

Councillor Bryan Deakin, Falkirk Council’s spokesperson for Climate Change said: "We are fortunate to have such great support from our communities in tackling litter and supporting our workers in clearing up areas that are blighted by the irresponsible actions of individuals.

“Littering is unnecessary, harmful to our environment and damaging to our communities – take it home or put in a bin – so little time and effort to make a huge difference.

“I want to thank everyone, including our workforce, in taking part on the KSB Spring Clean initiative and helping to keep our neighbourhoods clean and safe for everyone."

Barry Fisher, Chief Executive at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Encouragingly, our research confirms that 85% of people agree that they want to see more efforts to prevent litter in their area.

“It starts with us. No longer can we wait for someone else to pick up the litter we might walk past every day – so we are inviting everyone to organise a litter pick with friends, family, workmates or alone, or to join an event registered on our Clean Up Scotland map.

“Every action, however small, will help us reverse the litter emergency.”

Last year more than 30,000 people across Scotland rolled up their sleeves and, equipped with litter pickers, bags, and gloves, made a positive difference in their own neighbourhoods

Community groups and individuals can get involved and support the KSB/Falkirk Council campaign by signing up online, or contact Falkirk Council who will register your involvement.

Falkirk Council can assist groups to organise their event by:

• suggesting an area locally to litter pick

• supplying litter-picking equipment

• offering advice for risk assessments

• providing Public Liability Insurance cover

• arranging for the collected litter to be uplifted

Help us #TakePrideInFalkirk, get involved, and organise a litter pick during Spring Clean Scotland 2024.

Visit Falkirk Council’s local clean-up webpage for more details on how to register your litter pick, now.