A MONTH-LONG campaign to tackle Scotland’s litter emergency has been welcomed by East Lothian’s MSP.

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful’s spring clean takes place from yesterday (Friday) to April 17.

The initiative calls on communities, schools, businesses and other organisations to play their part in tackling the problem.

The charity published the Scottish Litter Survey last year, which found that more than two-thirds of people believed litter was a problem in their local area, while 87 per cent felt it was an issue across the country.

Now, the campaign has been highlighted in the Scottish Parliament by Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian. He submitted a motion, which was backed by more than 25 of his Holyrood colleagues, supporting the scheme.

It reads: “That the Parliament welcomes Keep Scotland Beautiful’s announcement that spring clean in 2023 will take place from March 17 to April 17; understands that a recent report by the charity highlighted that litter and the ongoing decline in local environmental quality in communities across the country is a matter of significant public concern, with 87 per cent of respondents to the Scottish Litter Survey believing that litter was an issue across Scotland; considers that spring clean provides an excellent opportunity for everyone, including MSPs, community groups, schools, councils and businesses, to work collaboratively to take action to clean up communities, and pays tribute to the ongoing work of community groups across the country already taking local action on litter, including over 100 community clean-up hubs that are part of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s national network.”