CAMERAS will soon be watching for litterbugs on two major roads.
A new pilot scheme is being launched by Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland to tackle littering on both the A1 and the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass.
From mid-September, LitterCam technology will be deployed along the two routes to record drivers or their passengers who throw litter from vehicles.
The cameras use artificial intelligence (AI) to detect when litter is discarded, allowing authorities to measure the scale of the problem at each location.
Tommy Deans, south-east network manager at BEAR Scotland, said: "Scotland is renowned for its natural beauty, yet the amount of litter discarded on these major routes is an eyesore and an embarrassment.
"Littering is against the law.
"This trial uses the latest technology to record incidents of littering.
"It is hoped the project will prompt people to think twice about committing this anti-social behaviour."
The pilot will run for six months.
In the past year, BEAR Scotland collected 3,018 bags of litter, weighing more than 15 tonnes, from the Edinburgh City Bypass.
Mr Deans highlighted the dangers and costs associated with roadside litter.
He said: "Working on high-speed roads comes with risk, but the risks during litter picking could be completely avoided if drivers or passengers took litter home.
"The resources invested in picking litter could be ploughed into other tasks that contribute to keeping these strategic routes safe and reliable for the people of Scotland."
Andrew Kemp, chief executive of Litter Cam, was hopeful that the initiative could make a difference.
He said: "On projects we’ve worked on elsewhere, we’ve seen a 40 per cent reduction in verge side litter.
"We are confident that working with Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland will help tackle the blight of litter on these strategic routes."
In April, BEAR joined forces with East Lothian Council and Keep Scotland Beautiful to do a ‘deep-clean’ litter pick on the A1 between Spott Roundabout and Thistly Cross Roundabout.
A total of 122 bags of litter were collected on the three-kilometre stretch on one day by a team of 10, with lane closures in place for safety.
Heather McLaughlin, campaigns manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said that roadside litter was a widespread concern.
She said: "There's no debate about the impact roadside litter is having on our country: 90 per cent of people believe it's an issue.
"As the lead delivery partner on roadside litter for the Government's national litter and flytipping strategy, we're pleased to support BEAR's continued efforts to tackle this issue.
"Roadside litter is not only dangerous for drivers, wildlife and those who have to clean it up, but it also has a financial cost.
"We all have a part to play: give your litter a lift or take it home."
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