A surge in public clean-ups and litter picking is an unexpected consequence of the lockdown.
West Lothian Council’s staff on the Neighbourhood Enforcement Teams have reported increased demand for litter picking equipment and bags as groups and individuals have taken to cleaning up parks and favourite places during the lockdown.
David Lees from Nets land and countryside, told a meeting of Livingston South Local Area Committee: “We have seen more demand during lockdown. People are more active in litter picking. We can supply litter pickers, bags and hoops.”
A report added: “There has also been a significant increase in the purchase of litter picking equipment’s by WLC, as volunteer groups are expanding. Since the start of the pandemic we have seen a huge increase in the number of people are accessing their local parks and the wider countryside.
"As a result of this as well as a considerable increase in enquiries received relating to access, the ranger service has devised and published a ‘Ranger Service Guide to Responsible Access on WLC Facebook page and Council website – a general post about access rights, followed by user-specific guidance for dog encounters, horse encounters, bikes and walkers. The series was well received and shared widely.”
Mr Lees explained that for much of the year many of the NETS staff’s work had been suspended under lockdown and work to catch up had been ongoing since the late summer.
A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “We would like to take the opportunity to thank all volunteers, individuals and groups for their efforts in removing litter throughout West Lothian.
"It is also important to remind everyone to please keep themselves up to date with the latest guidance from the Scottish Government in relation to local coronavirus restrictions before arranging or setting out on a litter pick.”
Anyone interested in starting litter picking can contact the council on enforcementandeducationteam@westlothian.gov.uk.
