Litter has become a massive problem in all countries worldwide. In Scotland, amounts of litter on streets and in public open spaces like parks and beaches has increased by 500% since the 1960s and that figure will continue to rise unless we take action. Here are five ways you can reduce litter in your local area.

1. If you see a stray piece of litter on the ground anywhere -  pick it up, don’t leave it to be blown about. If nobody moves it, it will be picked up by the wind and instead of ending up in the recycling or a bin it will most probably go into the sea and clutter our beaches and kill animals, and   never be used for anything good again.

2. If you and family or friends are heading to a open space - especially the beach - be sure to bring a bag for any litter that you may produce from lunch or some food that you have brought to enjoy on a hot day. If you bring your litter home you may be saving your family over £20 every year - yes employing people to pick up litter is pricey. 

3. Like a piece of gum to freshen up your mouth? Well actually if you drop that on the ground it’s littering too. Around 46 million pounds is spent in Scotland to street clean each year. Also 48% of people admit dropping litter each year - make sure that you are in that 52%. Just stick your gum in the bin, how big of an ask is that?

4. You know, if you take part in a litter pick you could be boosting the economy - Litter is hidden cash! Plastic bottles can be used for new products, just like drink cans. You could be giving someone a job as well as making around £1.2 million for the country. 

5. Do your parents ever say that something will come out of your pocket money? Well, you can be fined £80 up front if a police officer catches you littering. If that isn’t paid, well that jumps to £2,500 and then again to as much as £40,000. Make sure that you put everything in a bin, if something falls out of your pocket - well that counts as well. 

So that is my top five suggestions to stop the nation turning into a rubbish dump. Keep your litter until you find a bin and that will also be saving you money. Anything that wasn’t in a natural area before - should not be there after. Leave no trace.