Renfrewshire’s Big Spring Clean hailed as more than 1750 volunteers turn out to 103 events

Communities across Renfrewshire have thrown their support behind the Team Up to Clean Up campaign as 103 events were held in one month as part of the Big Spring Clean.

One of the campaign’s flagship events, the event saw more 1750 volunteers join a clean up event in their area with more than 1850 bags of litter collected by the council’s StreetScene team.

Building on the success of a weekend-long event last year, and the Spotless September Challenge, the special event saw almost every community in Renfrewshire take part with litter picks large and small making a difference.

Businesses, community groups, council staff and school pupils were all involved as the campaign cleaned the streets of Renfrewshire and educated people on the issue of littering.

Councillor Cathy McEwan, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “What a fantastic month it has been, and I want to thank every volunteer, from the businesses to the lone litter pickers, for the work they’ve done to make Renfrewshire a brighter, more attractive place to live and work.

“Whether it’s our young people filling a bag between them or a group collecting all they can carry, the work that has taken place has been outstanding and you can see a noticeable difference in our local area already.

“The hard work doesn’t end here as Team Up to Clean Up is a year-round campaign so we’re already planning our next events and continuing to provide ongoing support to our local communities.

“If you’re not involved already then why not come and be a part of this brilliant community campaign.”

The event in Renfrewshire ties into the two-month long Spring Clean event hosted by national environment charity Keep Scotland Beautiful throughout April and May.

Heather McLaughlin, Community Project Officer, said, “It’s great that so many people got involved in Renfrewshire’s Big Spring Clean in April in support of our national bid to clean up Scotland.

“We know that litter levels are at their worst in a decade, but the passion and commitment that the Renfrewshire volunteers showed gives us all hope that we can reverse the trend.

“We support clean up activity all year, so if you want to get involved and be part of the solution there’s still time.”

The Team Up to Clean Up campaign has benefitted from a £2.5million investment in Renfrewshire’s local environment which has seen an increased programme of road sweeping, drain clearing, litter picking and an enhanced Rapid Response Team.

The investment has also facilitated local communities to undertake litter picks by providing them with gloves, litter pickers, bags and hoops, as well as the support of the council’s Wardens Service and StreetScene team who remove the collected rubbish at the end.

For more information on the campaign and how to get involved, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/teamuptocleanup.