West Lothian volunteer litter pickers filling 800 bags a week

West Lothian’s army of volunteer litter pickers are filling 800 bags a week.

Council officers have now provided £32,000 worth of equipment to members of West Lothian Litter Pickers, and other volunteer groups.

The clean-up first seriously got under way during last year’s lockdown.

Countryside manager, Andy Johnston, told a meeting of the Whitburn and Blackburn local area committee: “I’d like to take the opportunity to recognise the work of West Lothian Litter Pickers in particular, but there are a number of others.

“They have made a significant effort, picking up about 800 bags of litter a week.

“If it wasn’t for them we’d be in a far worse situation because I just don’t physically have the resources to go around. I really appreciate everything they are doing.”

Mr Johnston said he was planning to take a report to council after the summer recess to formally recognise the efforts of the litter pickers.

NETs Land and Countryside staff now have bi-monthly meetings set up with the volunteers.

Mr Johnston added: “We are looking at how we can improve partnership working.”

Councillor Kirsteen Sullivan said: “There’s terrific work going on with the litter pickers and other voluntary groups and, as you say, it couldn’t be done by the council alone.”

There are established “hotspots” for littering and dumping in the area, including Hens Nest Road.

Councillors also voiced concerns about the amount of litter generated by customers at the new shops and fast-food outlets in the Heartlands development.

The council has spent an additional £220,000 on street cleaning machines and hired a strategy officer to work on the prevention measures and behavioural change.

The new team member will work with national agencies and local businesses to reduce packaging, and also with local schools.

Mr Johnston said: “There is a recognition it is not sustainable to keep picking up litter. We have got to try to prevent it from happening in the first place.”

By local democracy reporter Stuart Sommerville