In just 45 minutes, seven college volunteers removed 4.8kg of litter from the local area and successfully diverted 1kg of recyclable material from general waste, helping to keep our community cleaner and reduce environmental impact.
On 24 August, members of the Operations Team took part in a community clean-up campaign around the College and Blythswood Square. The aim of the initiative was to help maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for local residents, visitors, staff, and College members, while also promoting responsible waste management through recycling.
Clean and attractive public spaces contribute positively to community wellbeing, encourage civic pride, and help protect local wildlife from the harmful effects of litter. By volunteering our time to remove waste from the area, we are supporting the wider community and demonstrating the College's commitment to environmental sustainability.
During a 45-minute litter pick involving seven volunteers, a total of 4.8 kilograms of waste was collected. The waste consisted primarily of paper, cardboard, plastic containers, beverage cans, cigarette butts, and other general litter commonly found in urban environments. During the litter pick we engaged with a number of local people and passersby who commented upon the good work we were doing, which in turn gave us a feeling of doing something worthwhile and beneficial for others.
Following collection, the waste was carefully segregated and weighed to identify materials that could be recycled. The results were as follows:
General Waste – 3.8kg
Cardboard & Paper – 0.2kg
Plastic – 0.7kg
Cans – 0.1kg
Total Collected – 4.8kg
Of the 4.8 kilograms collected, 1.0 kilogram (21%) was recyclable material, while 3.8 kilograms (79%) had to be disposed of as general waste.
Segregating recyclable materials from general waste is extremely important. Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill, conserves natural resources, lowers carbon emissions associated with producing new materials, and supports a more circular economy. Even small quantities of recyclable material can make a meaningful difference when collected consistently over time. By separating paper, cardboard, plastics and metal cans, we ensure that these materials can be reprocessed and reused rather than being lost as general waste.
This initiative demonstrates how collective action, even over a short period, can have a positive impact on our local environment. The Operations Team's efforts removed litter from the community, improved the appearance of the surrounding area, and diverted recyclable materials from the general waste stream, helping to support the College's wider sustainability objectives.
Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of the campaign. This initiative is open to all college employees, and our next litter pick will take place in late September, when we will record all data again and provide information through the monthly colleague update. All protective equipment will be provided for participants.
