The 2023 campaign for people to help Clean Up Aberdeen has been launched with a landmark anniversary for one of the volunteers.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) does four beach cleans a year in Aberdeen and this year is the organiser, Iain House’s, 20th year of taking part.
As well as making the city more beautiful, the clean ups survey the waste which is found around the city including the beach and provides valuable data to the Marine Conservation Society, which publishes an influential annual Litter Survey report for Scotland and the UK and promotes various campaigns and research to enhance the marine environment.
Iain and his MCS colleagues were joined at the launch by Lauren Smith from East Grampian Coastal Partnership (EGCP) and both organisations held a beach clean today as part of Climate Week North East.
Iain said: "Thanks are due to the hundreds of local volunteers over the years that have been involved in taking action to improve the local marine environment. It’s amazing - it doesn’t feel like my wife Julia and I have been doing this for 20 years and it has just flown by.
“We have learnt that although the litter amounts are slowly reducing year-on-year recently, the battle however must go on, as Aberdeen has well over the UK average amount of beach litter, mostly plastics and polystyrene.
“Everyone can reduce litter at source, so please continue to play your part - thank you.”
Lauren said: "Clean Up Aberdeen is a positive initiative to encourage people to do their bit for where they live, collecting litter when out and about really starts to add up and improves the environment for wildlife, people, and the overall community.
“It's great to be here today supporting Clean Up Aberdeen whilst representing EGCP and kicking off a series of cleans for Climate Week North East.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Dr David Cameron said: “It is fantastic Iain has been doing beach clean-ups for 20 years and we thank him for his contributions over the years.
“We all want our neighbourhoods to be tidy, clean, and green places and Aberdeen City Council wants to help local communities to help themselves to achieve that - unfortunately, we have limited resources and cannot be everywhere at the same time.
“We all want a better environment which leads to better lives for everyone.”
The launch means everyone in the city is being encouraged to help to Clean Up Aberdeen by reducing waste, litter-picking, and appreciating wildlife in their own neighbourhood.
These small differences carried out by an individual can make big changes to making entire communities cleaner, greener, and brighter for everyone to enjoy.
Clean Up Aberdeen is aligned to the national campaign Keep Scotland’s Spring Clean Scotland 2023 which ran until 17 April.
The campaign also ties into Climate Week North-East by focusing on waste reduction, recycling, small improvements making big difference, appreciating wildlife on your doorstep, and a litter-picking session.
To get advice or help for organising a litter-pick, go to Clean Up Aberdeen | Aberdeen City Council .
PIC CAPTION: Iain and Julia House with Lauren Smith (orange jacket)