The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Argyll and Bute Council are working in partnership with Helensburgh litter busters the East Esplanade Protection Group to tackle fly-tipping.

Every Friday morning the group, made up of around 10 locals, collect and dispose of waste that has been washed ashore or illegally dumped. The group was formed approximately 6 years ago.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) welcomes the work of this group and recognises their endeavours to keep the east beach clear from rubbish.

SEPA recognises that there has been a problem with fly-tipping in the general Helensburgh area, including dumped garden waste on the foreshore at the East Esplanade. The Agency is responsible for ensuring that waste is not treated, kept or disposed of in a way that is likely to cause pollution of the environment or be harmful to human health. It works closely with the Local Authorities on waste disposal, as the LA’s have responsibility for providing a collection and disposal service for domestic waste within their boundaries.

Jacqueline Burns, Environmental Protection Officer for SEPA said: “There appears to be a lack of understanding as to what constitutes proper disposal of waste. The deposit of garden refuse on the beach is not an acceptable disposal method. Any one caught disposing of their waste on the east beach can ultimately be reported to the Procurators Fiscal. A person convicted of fly-tipping can be fined up to £20,000 or even face a custodial sentence. SEPA is monitoring the situation at Helensburgh and will take relevant enforcement action against flytippers where possible. We would urge local people to contact SEPA to report anyone they have witnessed fly-tipping waste.”

Argyll and Bute Council’s Amenity Services Manager for Helensburgh and Lomond, Gordon Sutherland, added, “The work of the East Esplanade Protection Group is invaluable to this community. Over a period of time they have removed a phenomenal amount of refuse, whether washed ashore or illegally dumped.

“The Council provides the group with refuse bags and gloves, and removes the rubbish collected by them. We are also working with the group to actively discourage the illegal dumping of garden refuse on the shoreline which is a major problem.”

To report flytipping, call SEPA on their 24 hour Emergency Hotline - 0800 807060.

ENDS