Renfrewshire communities encouraged to participate in Spotless September

Renfrewshire residents who want to help make their local neighbourhoods cleaner and more inviting places to live, work and visit are being encouraged to take part in Spotless September. 

A key part of Renfrewshire Council’s Team Up to Clean Up campaign, the annual event has attracted thousands of volunteers as they work closely with the council to improve the cleanliness of their local area. 

Volunteers are supported to carry out litter picks in their neighbourhoods throughout the month of September with the provision of equipment, bags, advice and the removal of the litter afterwards – and more than 6,300 people are part of the online community. 

Last year’s event saw 1,534 volunteers take part in improving their local environment with 355 litter pick events taking place throughout Renfrewshire and 2,800 bags of rubbish being collected. 

Spotless September will also see council officers visit secondary schools to speak to young people about the importance of respecting their local environment, while they will also engage with local businesses to ask them to take part in the campaign and to make greener, more sustainable choices when it comes to packaging. 

A new initiative has also been launched in schools to encourage high school pupils across Renfrewshire to develop responsible behaviours towards disposing of litter. 

Bin to Win rewards high school pupils who help keep their towns and villages clean and tidy with monthly prizes of £30 and £20 gift vouchers, rewarding positive behaviour and helping to develop good habits.  Pupils can snap a photo of themselves using the bin to dispose of litter and scan the QR code on the side of the bin to upload their photo and submit and online form to be in with a chance of winning.   

Councillor Michelle Campbell, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “Spotless September is always a fantastic event, and it regularly attracts thousands of local people to take part in the Team Up to Clean Up campaign. 

“I’m especially pleased to see the new Bin to Win initiative launched in our High Schools to encourage our young people to adopt responsible attitudes and positive behaviours towards their local environment.  

“I’m looking forward to another busy September for the campaign and I would encourage anyone who is passionate about where they live to get involved and take part.” 

For more information, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/teamuptocleanup or email litterpicks@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

For more information on Bin to Win please visit the Renfrewshire Council website and search for Bin to Win.