There was a Transatlantic feel as volunteers and community groups took part in a massive 24-hour-long Midsummer litter pick across the city filling hundreds of black bags - and a new group taking part in Aberdeen, USA.
The Glitterpick event – with the aim of making the city more sparklingly clean in the summer months – had 40 separate clean-ups from organisations including primary and secondary schools, community groups, and individuals.
It involves litter picks starting every hour over 24 hours from midnight on Wednesday to 11pm last night and this year volunteers in the city of Aberdeen in Washington State, USA, took part for the first time.
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “It’s good that so many groups came out to help keep our city looking sparkling clean. It is great to see the Glitterpick reaching people in Aberdeen, USA.
“Council staff work hard to keep our city clean and tidy. Unfortunately they cannot be everywhere at the same time so the action taken by these communities, groups, workplaces, and individuals makes a big difference.”
Aberdeen City Council Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee convener Councillor Miranda Radley said: “We’d prefer if people didn’t litter in the first place as it is bad for the environment and makes our city look unattractive. We are all responsible for keeping our city beautiful. This effort can be as simple as picking up litter outside our front gates every day, or a bigger effort such as litter picks carried out by dozens of groups throughout the year.
Hazlehead Primary pupils
“These organised litter-pick events really do make a huge difference to local communities and help foster pride in our beautiful city.”
The 496 participants in the Aberdeen City Council-organised event managed to fill 197 black bin bags across the 40 clean-ups.
This year’s event was started by ACC’s library services team at midnight on Wednesday followed by ACC’s environmental services staff in the early hours and then by the other groups every hour.
Other groups taking part this year included Riverbank School, St Machar Academy, Airyhall Primary, Hazlehead Child Minders, Hazlehead Primary, Garthdee Field Allotments, Kirkhill School, Keep Middlefield Clean, Forehill School, ACC’s Climate & Environmental Policy Service, Hanover St school, Cummings Park Community Flat, Ferryhill School, Bucksburn ASN, SHMU Wellbeing Café, Bonnymuir Green, Friends of Victoria & Westburn, Thursday Club Northfield Community Centre, Powis Pickers - Community Kids Club & Residents, Kincorth & Leggart Community Council, Countryside Rangers, Thursday Club at Northfield Community Centre, Fresh Community Wellness, Clean Streams and Memes, and Fittie Community Trust.
The places the groups picked litter up from included school grounds, Morningside, Garthdee, Springhill Road/Sheddocksly sports centre, Cranford Lane, The Deeside Way, Asda football pitches, TECA grounds, the rear of the retail units at Garthdee, Fernilea Park, Kingswells pond and play area, Maidencraig car park, North Donside Beach, Hazlehead, Bridge of Don behind care home, Broadhill, grass area next to Codonas and Beach Boulevard, Cummings Park, Albury Park, Deer Park - River Don, near Bonnymuir Green, Victoria and Westburn Parks, Northfield, Powis, Kincorth, Scotstown Moor, Seaton, Fittie, and near the Beach Retail Park.
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, go to Clean Up Aberdeen | Aberdeen City Council.