People Against Litter

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Sep 2006, 11:46

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best:

Are you tired of seeing unsightly litter spoil our towns, cities and countryside?

PAL is a group of people founded in Edinburgh, Scotland who are committed to trying to reduce this unsightly problem. We have a simple aim: each member picks up at least one piece of litter per week and asks another person to do the same. By word of mouth the numbers will increase and lead to an improved environment for us all. This can be done in whatever part of the world you live in or are visiting, at no personal cost.

There are no fees or meetings, just an individualâ€™s commitment to pick up litter on a regular basis.

People Against Litter - more info

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 08 Sep 2006, 11:59

When I was a student, one of the other student flats in my stair used to have rubbish outside their door - strewn on their doorstep. Instead of cleaning it up or asking them to clean it up, I added to it each time I went past. Very quickly they cleaned it up and it never happened again.

Not sure what I think of the recent thing that the council did in East Lothian though!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Sep 2006, 12:10

Dadaist wrote:Not sure what I think of the recent thing that the council did in East Lothian though!

That was the story that appeared in the EN recently:

Council in protest over street rubbish

Did you see the number of comments it attracted? I think it's a bold and interesting idea. We all take for granted that our streets are kept relatively clean. I think people would be disgusted if they saw just how much rubbish accumulates over the course of a week and it might just change the attitude of a few.

What I really find dispiriting is the view expressed by many that they pay their council taxes and therefore the Council should just get on with the job of cleaning up after them and stop moaning about it. How about collective responsibility and taking a little bit of pride?

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 08 Sep 2006, 12:47

Sure thing - absolutely. It doesn't follow - of course - that paying council tax entitles you to drop litter!

They (the council involved) must have got helluva frustrated - they will be well aware of the public health risks of not collecting refuse, and of their statutory obligations to do so.

Not collecting is quite an extreme measure for them to have taken given today's climate of health & safety and litigation.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 08 Sep 2006, 12:48

I was at a wedding 2 years ago and I sat next to a japanese guy who is married to a scot. He lives here and has done for 3 years. I asked him what he felt was the biggest difference in our cultures. He didn't have to think, he said that he was gobsmacked every time he sees people who are paid to pick up other people's litter. It just doesn't happen in Japan.

Apparently it is instilled very early in personal development: children are reponsible for keeping their schools clean, tidy and litter free. Maybe PHS should twin with a japanese high school.

gilo · Post by **gilo** » 08 Sep 2006, 13:01

Change your perspective and see it as urban art - a statement if you will.
A can of coke and a fish supper shoved into a proudly maintained hedge - the next Turner prize?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Sep 2006, 13:05

Probably. I wouldn't be in the least surprised.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 08 Sep 2006, 13:09

One New Year's day I walked from Abbeyhill to Merchiston. The rubbish from the hogmanay crowds started at the bottom of the royal mile (where the parly is now) and covered street and pavement the entire walk through the centre of town - high street, chambers st, lauriston pl, tollcross, and didn't end until bruntsfield links. I walked through rubbish for the best part of an hour.

I know this is an extreme example - but how could you ever (short of rubbish suddenly being worth money) educate or enforce or do anything to stop this happening where large amounts of people gather?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 08 Sep 2006, 13:28

Dadaist wrote:
I know this is an extreme example - but how could you ever (short of rubbish suddenly being worth money) educate or enforce or do anything to stop this happening where large amounts of people gather?

That's a damned good question.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 08 Sep 2006, 13:32

There is an example. In the USA when on the beach one can often observe aluminumb (US) can collectors whoi get a couple of cents per can from someone or other.

Mind you, that's not solving the littering function it is just tidying it up.

Cleopas · Post by **Cleopas** » 08 Sep 2006, 17:34

I'm beginnin to think the ancients had it right with the likes of the Code of Hammurabi ... Very simply ... an eye for an eye ...

Anyone want to work out how this might work with litter-louts?

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 08 Sep 2006, 20:28

Bob Jefferson wrote:Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best:

Are you tired of seeing unsightly litter spoil our towns, cities and countryside?

PAL is a group of people founded in Edinburgh, Scotland who are committed to trying to reduce this unsightly problem. We have a simple aim: each member picks up at least one piece of litter per week and asks another person to do the same. By word of mouth the numbers will increase and lead to an improved environment for us all. This can be done in whatever part of the world you live in or are visiting, at no personal cost.

There are no fees or meetings, just an individualâ€™s commitment to pick up litter on a regular basis.

People Against Litter - more info

I read about this also - a great idea

I picked up a diet coke can on the prom (which i hadn't dropped) and put it in the bin recently and I got a weird look off a passer by.

Cleopas · Post by **Cleopas** » 08 Sep 2006, 22:29

I remember a chick-flick called "Pay It Forward" ... an adaptation of that idea perhaps??

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Sep 2006, 22:42

Sandra, I often pick up litter in Rosefield Park when I take my daughter there. It gives me something useful to do while she runs around and in fact she enjoys helping. I have several of those litter picker thingies that a friend in Env Services gave me.

People assume that either I must be mad or that I must work for the Council (or some combination of these) and once a rather snooty woman started to complain to me that her daughter had lost something in the park and what was I going to do about it? I told her that I was on a community service order and she left rather quickly.

Libby · Post by **Libby** » 10 Sep 2006, 02:32

I was in Singapore quiet recently and i was very impressed by the clean air, when you breathed in you could actually smell the clean air.

I was also impressed by the fact there was no litter lying in the street, i was even more intrigued as there is no litter bins in the street either, i did notice that peoples pockets were bulging a bit though.

I suppose that fact that you get on the spot fines for dropping litter must have had something to do with the bulging pockets

Libby

Black Mamba · Post by **Black Mamba** » 13 Sep 2006, 11:27

Mr Mamba and I are not long back from Paris, no litter there either, bliss

Ed · Post by Ed » 13 Sep 2006, 14:28

I was in North Berwick last Sunday and the one thing I noticed (even injured and with a hangover) was how clean it was. There was no piles of litter, not even chuggy and best of all no neds

Maybe I just had a lucky day?

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

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