AS PART of Keep Scotland Beautiful Spring Clean Scotland 2023 campaign, my team and I headed to Fisherrow Sands for an afternoon litter pick along the promenade. We were treated to sunshine, a drizzle of rain and some unexpected finds.

From television remote controls to wheel trims and pieces of clothing, our litter bags did not stay empty for long. Alongside the obscure items, I was shocked at the amount of disposable vapes, single-use cups and cutlery and disposable gloves. I have already expressed my views on disposable vapes in previous columns – more action needs to be taken to tackle this immediate issue. It does not only pose a risk to the environment but also poses a potential fire risk.

As a nation, Scotland has worked hard to tackle the issues of single-use plastics and the risk they pose to the environment. Only last year, the Scottish Government introduced a ban of many single-use plastics which also made it an offence for businesses in Scotland to provide the items – which includes plastic cutlery. Businesses were encouraged to change to reusable alternatives to help tackle issues such as litter. However, it is clear that single-use items such as these are still being found on our beaches and our parks.

East Lothian, especially Fisherrow Sands, is a haven for shorebirds and is not too far from the Lagoons birdwatching site. Litter poses a massive threat to them also and in many cases can be life-threatening. It is important we take steps to protect our wildlife and their habitats.

I have also been made aware of reports of fly-tipping in my constituency. This costs Scotland millions of pounds a year to deal with but can be easily avoided. SEPA and Police Scotland encourage anyone to report these issues directly to the relevant local authority.

Scotland is facing a litter emergency and it is down to every single one of us to help change that. Spring Clean Scotland runs from March 17 to April 17. There is still time to get involved and help our local environments.