Registration for the annual blitz on litter during April has opened and already there are more than 7,000 volunteers committed to pulling on their bright yellow spring clean tabard at 82 clean up events across Scotland.

 

Re-established four years ago the month long campaign has grown exponentially becoming one of the country’s largest volunteer events. Families, schools, community groups, environmental organisations and businesses have all taken up the challenge to do something to improve the cleanliness of their local areas – and now Keep Scotland Tidy is calling for even more people to come forward and help make National Spring Clean 2010 the biggest yet.

 

Almost 60,000 people, at over 1,000 locations across Scotland, took part in fun litter pick events during the month of April 2009, filling enough black sacks of litter to fill 28,819 standard wheelie bins, but this year the campaign aim is to achieve even more.

Donna Niven, Programme Manager said, “Keep Scotland Tidy hopes to attract back many of those who took part in National Spring Clean last year, but we also look forward to welcoming some new recruits to bolster numbers and really give the country a good Spring clean”.

 

“Not only is a litter pick a way of getting out in the fresh air after an over indulgent festive period, it also provides a cheap, yet fun activity for all of the family.   

 

“So, please help us this April and organise, or take part in, an event near you – all you have to do is chose a location and sign up on line for your FREE clean up kit at www.keepscotlandtidy.org/springclean”. 

 

Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said,“Last year’s National Spring Clean was the most successful campaign by some distance with almost 60,000 people taking part – and we aim to do even better in 2010!

 

“As well as providing substantial funding in a bid to make this year’s clean-up the best yet we have set ambitious recycling targets and outlined our vision for a zero waste Scotland.

 

“Litter is an ugly intrusion on our public places, offends our sense of pride and is a poor advertisement for Scotland. This month-long blitz offers people throughout Scotland the opportunity to restore a sense of community pride and clean up their neighbourhoods for themselves and visitors to our country.” 

For further press information please visit www.keepscotlandtidy.org/mediacentre or contact Suzanne Roberts on 07841 349 430 or e-mail Suzanne.roberts@ksbscotland.org.uk

 

·         National Spring Clean will take place throughout Scotland from 1^st – 30^th April 2010.

·         Keep Scotland Beautiful is one of Scotland’s leading environmental charities, administering anti-litter campaigns under the Keep Scotland Tidy slogan along with the People and Places, Blue Flag and Eco-Schools environment programmes, Waste Aware Scotland, Sustainable Scotland Network, Climate Challenge Fund and Going Carbon Neutral Stirling campaign.

·         Scottish Government core funds KSB to undertake a wide range of initiatives to combat littering in Scotland, including National Spring Clean. Additional funding has been made available for National Spring Clean 2010 to help ensure the successful growth of the campaign.

·         Full details on National Spring Clean, including an online map showing where many of the events are taking place, are available at www.keepscotlandtidy.org/springclean