News

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) is today (26 November) holding a national Litter Summit in Edinburgh to discuss ways to combat Scotland's £100m litter problem.

The event, which is being held at the Hibernian Football Club, has been organised by KSB on behalf of cabinet secretary Richard Lochhead MSP and environment minister Mike Russell MSP, who will give the opening address.

KSB will present 10 measures to decrease litter, such as pressurising businesses to reduce packaging, introducing easier to use recycling facilities and more fines.

Lochhead said that Scotland has put a "significant amount of work into areas like recycling" as part of its move towards a zero waste society.

"However, litter remains an unsightly problem for urban areas, affecting quality of life and community morale," he added.

More than 90 delegates are expected to attend the event, which will include presentations on the local government's and KSB's views on litter and good practice from the Republic of Ireland and England.

Delegates will also be invited to participate in workshops discussing school, railway and marine litter and the impact of litter on tourism.

It is hoped the debate will lead to possible solutions to Scotland's litter problem, which KSB estimates costs around £100m annually to clean up.

To hear more about what was discussed at the event read Packaging News' daily bulletin tomorrow.