‘Adopt a Bonnie Banks Bin’ scheme planned

A pilot scheme on Loch Lomondside this summer saw 15 tonnes of litter being collected in new bins, with 97% of it being recycled.

Now the project is being extended into the winter, while a new year-round scheme asking people to ‘Adopt a Bonnie Banks Bin’ is being planned.

Conservation charity the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs installed the bins in an attempt to cure Loch Lomond’s chronic litter problems after Covid-19 restrictions were eased.

A total of 4,000 bags of litter were collected part of a larger £90,000 Two Lochs Visitor Management Project, which also included providing temporary toilets at the busy Duck Bay and Arrochar visitor hotspots as well as introducing seasonal village visitor wardens.

The 20 bins  were in lay-bys on the A82, one of the busiest tourist routes in Scotland with over 6m vehicle movements annually.

The Friends say the bins were ‘transformative’ and have allocated funding to retain them over the winter, while the new scheme is developed.

Vice chair John Urquhart said: “There is a substantial body of evidence from our regular monitoring activity that, despite the considerable volumes of traffic and pressure on the A82 along West Loch Lomondside, not only were the lay-bys mostly clear of litter, but so also were the road verges between the lay-bys.

“This is also reflected in the very positive feedback we have received from appreciative residents, businesses, and visitors.

“The pilot project has proved that if you provide bins and keep a place litter free, most people will treat the area with more respect and will respond to this and with a substantial drop in incidents of thoughtless littering.’’

An evaluation report on the pilot scheme recommends a coordinated A82 litter action plan involving various agencies and other stakeholders such as the Friends and local communities so that further progress can be made.

Along the stretch of the A82 in West Dunbartonshire, the council currently funds litter bins in lay-bys and regular collections.

But neighbouring Argyll and Bute Council has not provided bins in lay-bys along its section of the A82 on the lochside, leading to serious litter problems before this summer’s project.

MSP Jackie Baillie welcomed the report and she said: “The Friends have delivered a very practical litter initiative which has made a real difference.

“The findings of the report, the positive feedback received locally and the evidence on the ground has clearly demonstrated that the provision of litter bins in lochside lay-bys, that are regularly emptied, are a very effective way of helping to manage and control litter in areas where there are high levels of visitor pressure.”

She added: ‘’It is encouraging some local businesses are willing to step in and help fund the roll out of an ‘Adopt a Bonnie Banks Bin’ scheme next year.

“However, it is important that public agencies also contribute funds to ensure a truly sustainable scheme is in place and I will be asking them to help as it is essential further steps are taken to continue improving litter situation along the A82 on Loch Lomondside and it should not be left to a local charity to step in to do this on an ongoing basis.”