Hundreds of bags of rubbish collected across the city as part of a 24-hour litter pick

Litter ranging including a car bonnet, a doocot, a satellite dish, a vacuum cleaner, and four shopping trolleys was picked up as part of a 24-hour community litter pick across Aberdeen.

A total of 262 bags were collected as part of the ‘Glitterpick’, which was organised by Aberdeen City Council’s environmental team and involves schools and community groups and is designed to help make the city sparkle more in the summer months.

The Gliiterpick started at midnight on Wednesday with ACC’s environmental services team in the Mastrick/Sheddocksley area followed by the other groups every hour, with a total of 465 people taking part. In comparison, there were 332 participants who collected 206 bags last year.

Other groups taking part include Friends of Walker Dam, the City Council’s Countryside Rangers, Donside Village Community, Friends of Seaton Park, Middleton Park School, Riverbank School, Robert Gordon’s College, Hanover Street School, Fernielea School, Cummings Park Community Flat, Kingswells School, Airyhall School, Cornhill School, Hazlehead School, Skene Square School, Play Forum, Friends of Victoria & Westburn Parks, Guardians of Aberdeen's Graveyards, the City Council’s Environmental Strategy team, Cove community, RSPB Dolphinwatch, Spirit Energy, Beavers, Aberdeen Boat Club, Fit Like Joggers, Tidier Tilly, Friends of Sunnybank and Fittie residents.

A litter pick was held in different locations around the city every hour. The places the groups are picking litter up from included Mastrick/Sheddocksley, Bridge of Don, Cranfield Road, Walker Dam, Hazlehead, Den of Maidencraig, Donside Village, Seaton Park, Middleton Park, Tillydrone, Fernielea and The Burnie, Cummings Park, Kingswells school ground and local park, Airyhall, Cornhill School greenspace and play area, Hazlehead Park, Victoria & Westburn Parks, St Clement's Churchyard, Broadhill, Langdykes Rd/Bervie Brow, Torry Battery area, Garthdee pitches, Dee riverside, Kincorth Hill car park, St George's Hayton Road in Tillydrone, Sunnybank Park, Fittie and beach area, and the Beach Ballroom area.

Aberdeen City Council’s waste spokesman Councillor Philip Bell said: “It’s great that so many community groups came out to help keep our city looking sparkling clean.

“We’d prefer if people didn’t litter in the first place as it’s unsightly and is bad for the environment. Our staff work hard to keep the city clean and tidy but unfortunately we can’t be everywhere at the same time so the work carried out by these communities, groups, workplaces and individuals makes a big difference.

“We are all responsible for ensuring Aberdeen is keep clean and green by not littering and putting rubbish into the proper recycling bins but we can see from today’s efforts what a huge difference there is if we all put in a small bit of effort.

“This effort can be as simple as picking up litter outside our front gates, or a bigger effort such as litter picks carried out by dozens of groups throughout the year. These events including Glitterpick really do make a huge difference to local communities and help foster a bit of pride in our beautiful city.”

The event is part of the year-round Clean Up Aberdeen campaign which encourages people not to litter in the first place, and also provides equipment for groups wanting to organise a litter pick. For more details, or to get help organising an event, call 03000 200 292, or email cleanaberdeen@aberdeencity.gov.uk. More information is also available from Clean up Aberdeen on Facebook www.facebook.com/Clean-Up-Aberdeen, or from the website www.cleanupscotland.com/.

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