Making litter picking easier: What other councils can learn from North Ayrshire

Across the country, thousands of volunteers regularly head out with litter pickers, gloves and bags to clear rubbish from streets, parks, beaches and green spaces.

Their efforts make an enormous difference. But while some local authorities actively support and encourage these volunteers, others make life unnecessarily difficult.

That's why we were particularly pleased to hear about the approach being taken by North Ayrshire Council in Scotland.

A simple system that works

North Ayrshire Council has made supporting voluntary litter picking refreshingly straightforward.

Community groups can request litter pickers and bags through the council's website. Once they've completed a clean-up, they can use a simple online form to arrange collection of the rubbish.

The form asks for the date and time of the litter pick, the number of bags collected, details of any additional items and, importantly, where the bags have been left.

It's a relatively simple arrangement, but one that removes a significant headache for volunteers: what to do with all the rubbish they've collected.

One local volunteer recently shared their experience on Facebook, explaining that the council provides distinctive green bags that can be left beside street bins for collection.

They also explained that their group receives gloves, litter pickers and a first aid kit.

Perhaps most impressively, the volunteer reported that their group collects around 200 bags of litter every month, as do many other local groups.

That's an extraordinary contribution to keeping North Ayrshire clean.

Volunteers are an asset, not an inconvenience

There's an important principle here.

Every bag collected by a volunteer represents litter that might otherwise remain in the environment or require removal by a council employee or contractor.

Volunteer litter picking isn't a substitute for councils fulfilling their statutory responsibilities. But it can complement those services, extend their reach and help build stronger communities.

And volunteers shouldn't have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to make that contribution.

Providing basic equipment, arranging straightforward waste collection and maintaining good communication are relatively modest commitments compared with the potential benefits.

North Ayrshire's approach also illustrates something important: the easier you make volunteering, the more attractive it becomes.

A challenge for other local authorities

We'd encourage councils across the country to look at North Ayrshire's voluntary litter-picking arrangements (opens external site).

Could your council provide equipment more easily? Could volunteers report completed clean-ups online? Could collected bags be removed without repeated phone calls or lengthy correspondence?

None of this requires an expensive new initiative or complicated bureaucracy.

At FixASB, we believe tackling persistent problems in our public spaces requires a partnership between residents, businesses and public authorities.

Through our Get Involved functionality, we're helping communities organise activities, document their efforts and demonstrate the positive difference they're making.

But technology alone isn't enough. More local authorities also need to embrace the willingness of residents to help.

North Ayrshire Council is showing how a little practical support can go a long way.