A TEAM of volunteers have collected almost 100kg of rubbish from the road verges on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
The Scottish Coastal Clean Up is a group committed to clearing beaches and green spaces across the country, but took to a stretch of road near Musselburgh for their latest project.
Amongst the whopping total of 95kg of debris picked up was an astonishing 890 plastic bottles and cans, most of which have been taken for recycling.
In a video posted online, three volunteers are seen picking up miles-worth of empty energy drink cans and junk food wrappers.
The group states that they have removed over 55 tonnes of marine plastics from Scottish beaches and rely on volunteers to help collect litter across the coastline.
They posted to social media yesterday, saying: “480 metres of road verge cleaned on the outskirts of Edinburgh by three people.
“95kg of rubbish collected. 890 plastic bottles & cans picked up. 670 bottles & cans taken for recycling.
“Why are people throwing rubbish from their cars? Why are volunteers cleaning it up?”
The post received over 150 likes and 15 comments, with many in disbelief that so much rubbish could be found on one stretch of road.
One user said: “That is amazing. People are disgusting.”
Another questioned: “Why do they feel the need to ditch their c**p at the roadside?”
A third replied: “Incredible effort by the volunteers. Tackling roadside litter is vital for protecting local wildlife and ecosystems. Well done.”
The Scottish Government is working towards a deposit return scheme (DRS), which would mean paying a small deposit when buying a drink in a single-use container that can be received again when the bottle or can is returned.
They state that they are working closely with the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to ensure the successful rollout of the scheme across Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland in October 2027.
A DRS scheme is expected to reduce littering by a third, and will increase the recycling of single-use drinks containers to 90%, helping Scotland meet its climate change targets.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Coastal Clean Up said today: “The area from Fort Kinnaird to the bypass is heavily littered, mostly with bottles, cans, and takeaway wrappers.
“Despite cleaning only a small section, we collected over 20 bags of rubbish.
“As a beach cleaning project, we know that up to 80% of beach litter originates from land, carried by wind or water.
“Reducing single-use packaging is crucial, and businesses behind the most common litter should take more responsibility.
“Lastly, education is key to tackling the problem.”
