News / Roadside clean-up planned from Skaw to Sumburgh
THE LARGEST clean-up of Shetland’s roads is set to take place later this year.
It would be held between Skaw in Unst and Sumburgh in one day during the summer, with people likely cleaning up one mile of roadside each.
There could also be a social function in the evening for those taking part.
The clean-up is being organised by councillor Ryan Thomson, who recently launched a campaign to see single use plastics in Shetland’s businesses like straws and cups being replaced with biodegradable alternatives.
Thomson will enter discussions with Shetland Amenity Trust and Da Voar Redd Up to get advice on the clean-up.
“It will try and incorporate as many roads across Shetland as possible but certainly the main road from Sumburgh to Skaw,” environment and transport committee chairman Thomson said.
“The idea stemmed from a quick five-minute stop along the side of the road through the Lang Kames – it took only three minutes to fill a black bag and I wondered how many bags we could fill across the length of the Shetland road network in a single day.”
The North Isles councillor said over 200 people have so far come forward to register their interest in taking part.
“I also hope to have a social function afterwards, I have been speaking to someone about getting a band organised and perhaps trying to tie this in with raising funds for the Relay for Life which happens this year. We should know more when the date is set,” he added.
“I am also going to meet Sita [Goudie] at the Shetland Amenity Trust regarding this who has been extremely helpful with the Shetland Against Single Use Plastics campaign and hopefully get advice from her and work with her and the Amenity Trust who of course organise the very successful Da Voar Redd Up.”
Anyone interested in taking part is asked to register their interest on Facebook here.
Thomson’s single use campaign is quickly gaining steam, with at least 28 businesses and schools across the isles now signed up to the pledge.
They range from Nesting Primary School and NorthLink Ferries to Hoswick Visitor Centre and the Staney Hill Hall.
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott has also lent his weight to the campaign.
“I strongly support the local and national campaigns to reduce single use plastic from straws to plastic cutlery,” he said.
“There are lots of ways we can do better whether individually, as organisations or businesses. The recent Blue Planet series on TV highlighted the dangers to the marine world by the ever rising amount of plastic floating in the world’s oceans.
“So there are the strongest of arguments on why we should all act to reduce the use of plastics where there is a viable alternative.”
A study held recently in Orkney, meanwhile, found that the level of microplastic pollution on beaches around Scapa Flow was similar to those in areas like similar to those in the Forth and Clyde.
Heriot-Watt University researchers believe some of the residue is from clothes which contain polymer fibres.
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