A COLLABORATION to tackle litter and improving recycling in Forth Valley has been co-launched by Clackmannanshire Council.

The council has pledged their commitment to an innovative partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Forth Valley College, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Stirling and Falkirk Councils to combat single-use packaging litter.

Students at the college, which has campuses located in Alloa, Falkirk and Stirling, are being asked to consider how they can help reduce the on-the-go food and drink littler, which accounts for 63 per cent of litter counted across the three sites.

Kenny MacInnes, principal of Forth Valley College, said: “We are delighted to be helping Keep Scotland Beautiful with their survey and their litter and recycling intervention delivery plan.

“This will raise awareness of the proper way to recycle among young people in the Forth Valley area, and where better to do that than in Forth Valley College.

“This initiative ties in well with our sustainability and net zero plans and we are hopeful the awareness raised through this campaign will enhance our own efforts to recycle.”

To reduce littering and improve recycling, street bins around the campuses have ben wrapped with engaging messaging and a billboard and targeted digital online advertising campaign will be deployed over a seven week period.

Students and staff at Forth Valley were polled, with 78 per cent confirming they enjoy an on-the-go food or drink product each week.

Barry Fisher, chief executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, added: “We all enjoy on-the-go food and drink whether it is a sandwich, a bag of crisps, a chocolate bar or a can of soft drink.

“A quarter of litter recorded in our national surveys comes from food and drink packaging and the Scottish Litter Survey found 90 per cent of people agree that litter is a problem across our country.

“So, it is vital that we encourage everyone to consider what they do with their packaging. Only by working in collaboration with national and local government, businesses and communities will we be able to test campaign messages and evaluate their success.

“Ultimately, we want to see people recycling where possible, but at the very least, we need everyone to bin their waste and not to drop or chuck it – further deepening Scotland’s litter emergency.”