ARBROATH HARBOUR LITTER PREVENTION ACTION PLAN
CLEAN HARBOUR AND CLEAN SEAS
ANGUS CLEAN ENVIRONMENTS
INTRODUCTION Angus Clean Environments (ACE) is a network of individuals, groups, businesses and organisations who care about the landscape and environment of Angus; people who want to make a difference and ensure that future generations can enjoy clean green spaces, clean seas and healthy wildlife. Angus is an area of outstanding natural beauty and there are many of its citizens who are passionate about the places in which they live and like to visit.
Arbroath harbour is one of the most scenic harbours on the east coast of Scotland. It is important to tourism, fishing, local businesses and to the people of Arbroath and wider Angus. Thousands of visitors approach the harbour area every year along the National Cycle Route 1 which extends along the coast and through the harbour. The aim of this Litter Prevention Action Plan is to create a clean healthy environment, reduce waste and prevent litter from escaping into the sea
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) states that 80% of litter in Scotland’s marine environment is transported there from land by rivers, drainage or wind. Nowhere is this more apparent than along the harbour area of Arbroath where plastic flows down the Brothock burn and food-related litter is often left to blow into the sea at various locations along the coast.
ACE shares the Scottish Government’s vision of a litter-free Scotland, laid out in the national litter strategy, Towards a Litter-free Scotland which recognises the social, environmental and economic benefits of a cleaner, greener Scotland.
MAP HIGHLIGHTING PARAMETERS OF THE PROJECT
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The map highlights the key areas covered by the project which extends from the open area around Inchcape Park to the Harbour, along Old Shore Head and as far as Danger Point. Although Angus Council has not designated the area at Queen’s Drive, Inchcape Park, as a motorhome site, the public have established it as a hot spot for wild camping and it is heavily used nearly all year round. Whilst most motorhome users are responsible and take their litter away, a minority leave waste in the area. Arbroath is also renowned for seafood and other take-away food outlets but sadly, some members of the public leave their waste along the seafront not only encouraging seagulls but also risking litter and plastics escaping into the sea. Cigarette and dog-related litter are also visible across the target area.
METHODOLOGY ACE have worked collaboratively with all stakeholders and supporters. We have shared knowledge, ideas and resources to enable the delivery of this plan and influence others.
• Key stakeholders and supporters have been identified and involved in the design and planning of the project.
• The inudge BASIC framework has been used to assess and identify behaviour change interventions
• The plan is dynamic in the sense that, it will be informed by both this and possibly other projects and will therefore be subject to development and change.
• ACE members participated in a Local Environmental Audit Management System (LEAMS) workshop provided by Angus Council Waste Management Services in February 2019. This will enable pre-and post assessment surveys to be carried out to measure change and impact using a recognised assessment tool.
PROJECT STRUCTURE TIMESCALES
Phase 1
Assessment - Consultation - Design and Planning Sept 2018 March 2019
Phase 2
Pre - monitoring LEAMS surveys April 2019
Phase 3
Implementation of new infrastructure, nudge interventions and public engagement to take place.
01 May 2019.
Phase 4
Post monitoring LEAMS surveys will take place at regular intervals over a 15 month period
June 2019 to August 2020
Phase 5
A concentrated focus on enforcement will take place during August and September 2019 to target individuals who continue to litter.
August and September 2019
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SCOTLAND’S NATIONAL LITTER STRATEGY OUTLINES THREE CORNERSTONES OF INTERVENTION TO TACKLE
LITTER AND FLY-TIPPING
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Key Stakeholders
‘Fit O The Toon' ResidentsAngus Council
RNLILocal Businesses
Angus PublicAdopt-A-Street participants
Harbour CommitteeLadyloan Primary School
Harbour UsersArbroath Football Club
Local Food Outlets
Actions On Infrastructure
Improving the facilities and services
needed to reduce litter and promote
recycling
Actions On Enforcement
Strengthening the deterrent effect of
legislation
Our contribution towards creating a clean and green Angus, clean sea and a litter free Scotland
Actions On Information
Ensuring effective and consistent
messaging to prevent littering
Supporters
Scottish WaterSea No WasteKeptie Friends
St Vigeans Conservation NetworkZero Waste Scotland
SustransKnow You More
Neighbourly Environmental GrantsThe Round O Chip ShopKeep Scotland Beautiful
Marine Conservation SocietyEast Haven Together
OUR PLAN This plan outlines our actions against each of these cornerstones.
INFORMATION
ACTION INFORMATION WHO/WHEN
1 Raise public awareness about littering in the local environment and the impact on marine life
Description Produce information wraps for bins and information boards highlighting key messages for the campaign.
• Please don’t feed the seagulls
• Cigarette Butts are also litter and contain plastic. Down the drain and to the sea.
• Take your litter home or ensure it is secured in a bin
• Pick up after your dog (We’re Watching You posters)
We will engage directly with members of the public. Explain what the problem is. The consequences of litter, What we are trying to achieve.
SA, Angus Council
ACE
ACTION INFORMATION WHO2 Equip ACE individuals with the knowledge and
skills to use LEAMS methodologyDescription Angus Council to deliver a LEAMS training session to
a small number of ACE individualsRS, Angus Council
RC.JS.SR.WM
ACTION INFORMATION WHO3 Educate and raise awareness about the damaging
effects of plastic marine litter through a creative art and science project Public art event at harbour to be led by Julia Barton, Littoral Artist. @LitterCube
Neighbourly Grants. EHT
ACTION INFORMATION WHO4 Involve children in Ladyloan primary school in
work linked to the harbour litter projectBC, Angus Council. WM
Description Learn about litter types and how they are reaching the sea. How litter is travelling down the Brothock burn. Art Work to promote what they have learned and to raise public awareness
BC
WM
ACTION INFORMATION WHO
5 Incentivise and involve people on the Angus Adopt-A-Street scheme
Description Leading Plastic free business, Sea No Waste, in Arbroath have donated 10% off vouchers to all those registered on the Adopt-A-Street scheme
Sea No Waste
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INFRASTRUCTURE
ACTION INFORMATION WHO
6 Involve Arbroath Football Club who have the power to influence the behaviour of supporters
Description Promote the messages: Take your Litter Home - 80% litter from this area escapes into sea - Marine animals and sea birds have plastic inside them!
RC
ACTION INFORMATION WHO7 Raise awareness about the need to dispose of fast
food litter appropriatelyDescription Produce posters for fast food outlets across Arbroath
making a link between street litter and marine litter.
Information board at Inchcape Park
ACE members to visit business owners in food outlets across the wider area of Arbroath and engage them in the project. Encourage them to speak to customers about proper disposal of food packaging.
SA, Angus Council
ACE
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ACTION INFRASTRUCTURE WHO1 Assessment has been undertaken to consider the
bin infrastructure and the way in which the environment influences human behaviours. (Choice architecture - Salience - Intuitive)
Description • Bins are missing from Danger Point. Public are leaving litter in the space where bins used to be. Scottish Water have agreed to fund two new weather and seagull proof bins, To be installed in the spaces at Danger Point. Bins also have cigarette trays on them.
• Install information board at Danger Point
• Public are leaving their used food box containers on benches and walls as the bins are filling too quickly due to the size of the food boxes. Three 140L brown wheelie bins to be installed in key areas along shore road for large food waste packaging
• Bins to be maintained in best condition possible to attract people to use them. Wraps with bright engaging information to be placed around the 3 wheelie bins.
• Currently one waste bin at Inchcape Park. New signage will advise people to take their litter home.Trial of recycle on the Go bins to be considered
• The Harbour Master has three 1280L metal bins for harbour users. These are continually monitored to ensure appropriate use by the right people. Incidents of fly-tipping to be carefully monitored and reports shared with Waste Management services
Scottish Water
SA, Angus Council
Angus Council
SA, RS
Angus Council
SA, Angus Council
SA, Angus Council
BF,
Angus Council
ACTION INFRASTRUCTURE WHO4 Reduce plastic and non sustainable food
packagingDescription Work with local food outlets to consider alternative
forms of sustainable food packaging.
Local businessman is willing to share his knowledge and experience of sourcing and using sustainable food packaging with other interested businesses
WM
Mr SA
ACTION INFRASTRUCTURE WHO5 We will make it easy for the public to pick up litter
whenever they see it in the areaDescription Litter Share Station installed on the wall of RNLI
building to encourage people to get involved with litter picking. Members of the public are able to access a bag and picker to lift litter when they see it.
RNLI
ACTION INFRASTRUCTURE WHO6 Area at Old Shore Head to be enhanced to promote
local heritage and send out a strong message that local residents care about ‘their place’
Fit O the Toon residents
CW. ASDescription Scottish Water have provided funding to enhance the
area around the green with a rockery, heritage post and coastal plants. Also new wash poles.
Scottish Water to touch up certain areas around danger point and repair the metal seats
Parks Dept to paint benches in the harbour area
Scottish Water
Angus Council
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ACTION INFRASTRUCTURE WHO2 Council cleaning and bin emptying schedules
have been clarifiedDescription Harbour Staff undertake a comprehensive clean up
every morning at 7am
Waste Management Services empty bins at 8am and during busy periods they will be emptied again later in the day
The large harbour bins are emptied twice per week.
ACE - Adopt-A-Street individuals undertake additional weekly cleans
Angus Council
ACE /Adopt-A Street
ACTION INFRASTRUCTURE WHO3 Raise awareness that cigarette butts are litter.
(Cognitive Dissonance)Description Plastic in cigarette butts and their transportation
through the drain system and into the sea. “source to sea’
Ballot box style bin (connect with social identities)
WM
ENFORCEMENT
ACTION INFRASTRUCTURE WHO8 Members of the public and stakeholders to be
encouraged to participate in maintaining a clean environment
Description • 2 min clean ups to be promoted in the area. Bags to be handed out at launch on 1 May.
• People to be encouraged to participate in beach cleans and Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Surveys
• More people to be encouraged to register with Adopt-A-Street
Sustrans
MCSMr SA
ACE Sea No Waste
ACTION ENFORCEMENT WHO1 Enforcement is an important element of Scotland’s
Litter Strategy and will be a particular focus in phase 5 of the project
Description This plan aims to change public behaviour;
• By providing information about the damaging impact of litter
• By connecting with with people’s emotions and identities.
• By using strategies to ‘nudge’ behaviour change
• By making it easier for people to dispose of their litter appropriately by improvements to the infrastructure
• By enhancing the environment to send out a strong message from residents that they care about ‘their place’.
• By ensuring that people are aware that dropping any kind of waste is a crime. We will make people aware that even apple cores and cigarette butts are waste and that anyone caught can be issued with a fine starting at £80 for litter and £200 for fly-tipping.
• By a focus on enforcement which will begin in phase 5 of the project during August and September 2019. This phase will target individuals who persist in littering despite the changes which have taken place as a result of this plan.
ACE
RS, Angus Council
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ACTION INFRASTRUCTURE WHO7 Prevent litter entering the Brothock burn upstream
and travelling down to the harbour. ‘Source to Sea’
Description Significant work undertaken at St Vigeans on an ongoing basis to remove items at source from the Brothock. Review learning from KSB Upstream Battle and implement strategies whoever possible.
RC
KSB. RC. WM
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SPECIAL THANKS TO
Scottish Water: Generous legacy funding
Sustrans: Grant funding
Sea No Waste: Discount vouchers
Angus Council: Support across all areas
Zero Waste Scotland: Provision of inudge training
Know You More: Active Citizens Training, The British Council’s flagship Social Leadership Programme
Neighbourly Environmental Grants
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V2. 2019
Angus Clean Environments (ACE) was established following the Angus Litter Summit funded by LEADER in November 2017