1st Report on Litter Amounts 8/02/2020

Since I first started my Litter Picking adventures in Overtoun Estate Woods in Dumbarton in mid-August 2014, it has been quite an adventure and a challenge at the same time to remove rubbish that blights the environment around us. From that time in August 2014, I also pledged to record my results any way I possibly could; this included taking photographs as well as using certain applications such as PIRIKA and Litterati which have features that allow any user to show how much litter was collected either in units or litres (the latter regarding the amount of bin bags used to clear the litter away. This is especially useful in group-based litter picks). These photographs are often put on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter along with inserted Hashtags such as #CleanUpOvertounWoods, #CleanUpBowling, #CleanUpBalloch, #CleanUpClydebank, #CleanUpSoutherness, etc so that anyone can pick up on and read the posts from the Hashtags. This helps in generating awareness to an already growing problem which can be solved by communities voluntarily co-operating to get rid of litter from the areas they live (as long as the measures do not involve force of any kind, sorry Extinction Rebellion).

Presently acknowledged, the vast majority of trash that pollutes the seas around us come from Third World Countries which then flow over gradual amounts of time via the ocean currents and touch any geographical land they come into contact with. This often explains why beach clean-ups are required to happen a minimum of a few times per year in every, especially western countries, affected by the mess.

The following data I have gathered since 22nd January 2017 will demonstrate how much litter had to be collected over time within the areas of Overtoun Estate Woods (from the green gates beside Campbell Avenue in Dumbarton and the grey entrance on the Milton Brae within the same area) and the Lang Crags located above the estate area during each and every one of my dog walks. Admittedly, especially from 2018 onwards, the majority of the dog walks shifted towards the Lang Crags with the lower parts of Overtoun Estate Woods focused only for a tiny minority of the time, especially in the drier summer months and sometimes in the autumn during any storms that make hillwalking next to impossible to achieve, let alone collecting rubbish up there.

The gradual collection of data flows as follows:

22/01/2017

Glass Bottles - 4 Plastic Bottles - 2 Cans - 10 4 crisp packets

26/01/2017

Plastic Bottles - 3 Cans - 2 Glass Bottle - 1

29/01/2017

1 Can 1 Elastic Band

2/02/2017

Cans - 2 1 Plastic Bottle Plastic pieces - 4 Crisp Packets - 2

6/02/2017

Plastic Bottles - 3 1 Can

14/02/2017

1 Glass Bottle of Buckfast

20/02/2017

Cans - 3 1 Plastic Bottle

22/02/2017

Cans - 38 Plastic Bottles - 5 Bottle caps - 3 Can tops - 2

23/02/2017

1 Plastic Bottle 1 Drumsticks Sweet Packet

26/02/2017

1 Plastic Bottle 1 Can

1/03/2017

Plastic Bottles - 2 1 Can

5/03/2017

1 Can 1 Glass Bottle

11/03/2017

1 Glass Bottle 1 crisp packet 1 part of a tennis ball 1 sweet packet 1 clingfilm 1 bottle cap

13/03/2017

Cans - 2

1 Plastic Bottle 2 Sweet Packets 1 crisp packet 1 screw nut

24/03/2017

1 Can 1 dog poo bag 6 Sweet Wraps 1 piece of Tennis Ball skin

3/04/2017

Glass Bottles - 3 Plastic Bottles - 2 Cans - 2

9/04/2017

1 Historic Jar Plastic Bottles - 6 Cans - 1.5 1 box of iboprufen with a paper instruction manual 1 crisp packet 2 sweet packets 1 Capri-Sun Juice with Straw 4 Dog Poo Bags

8/05/2017

Cans - 28 Glass Bottles - 10 Plastic Bottles - 10 3 metal bottle caps 2 plastic bottle caps 1 yellow lighter 1 plastic marshmallows wrap 1 train ticket 1 drink carton with straw 1 green frisbee 1 green bottom of a glass bottle 5 poo bags 1 cigarette butt 1 piece of a shopping bag 1 shopping bag

9/05/2017

Cans - 3 1 Plastic Bottle 1 Plastic can packet holder

11/05/2017

1 Glass Bottle Glass pieces - 8 2 Crisp Packets 1 Biscuit Packet 2 smaller sweet packets

14/05/2017

1 Can 1 Plastic Bottle 1 metal Bottle Top

17/05/2017

Cans - 2

18/05/2017

1 Plastic Bottle 1 Can

19/05/2017

1 Can 1 rusty metal 1 Glass Bottle

24/05/2017

2 Paper Stirling Castle receipts 1 Can

27/05/2017

Plastic Bottles - 2

29/05/2017

Cans - 4 Plastic Bottles - 2

1/6/2017

Plastic Bottles - 3

2/06/2017

1 Can 1 metal Bottle Top 1 Plastic Bottle

4/06/2017

Cans - 2 1 Plastic Bottle 1 Glass Bottle

13/06/2017

1 Can Glass Bottles - 2

16/06/2017

1 Plastic Bottle Cans - 2

18/06/2017

1 Plastic Beer Can Holder packet 1 Plastic Bottle Cans - 4

25/06/2017

1 Can

26/06/2017

1 Sweet Packet 5 Glass Pieces Cans - 3 1 Plastic Bottle

27/06/2017

Cans - 2 1 Plastic Bottle

29/06/2017

Cans - 2

1/07/2017

Cans - 2

2/07/2017

1 Can

10/07/2017

1 Plastic Bottle Sweet Packets - 5

11/07/2017

Cans - 4 1 plastic bottle 1 small metal necklace part 1 circular orange plastic piece

13/07/2017

1 can 2 plastic bottles 1 crisp packet

14/07/2017

1 plastic bottle cap 1 Budweiser glass bottle

18/07/2017

1 melted chocolate bar 1 frozen sweet packet 1 rubber band 1 metal nail

19/07/2017

1 can 2 plastic bottles

25/07/2017

1 Plastic Bottle

27/07/2017

1 Plastic Bottle 1 Straw 1 Sweet Packet 3 glass pieces

2/08/2017

4 bits of glass 1 sweet packet 1 crisp packet 1 balloon 1 can

13/08/2017

3 plastic bottles 1 plastic bag 7 sweet packets 2 glass pieces 1 crimson ball

20/08/2017

1 metal bottle lid

5/09/2017

1 Can 1 plastic bottle 2 sweet packet parts

8/09/2017

1 sweet packet part

1/10/2017

7 cans 1 plastic bottle

2/10/2017

6 cans 1 plastic bottle 2 Glass Bottles 1 plastic pills box layer

5/10/2017

2 Cans

6/10/2017

5 glass bottles 1 plastic lid 1 screw nail

10/10/2017

1 sweet packet 2 cans 1 plastic bottle

15/10/2017

2 cans

16/10/2017

6 cans

19/10/2017

1 Can

20/10/2017

1 Can 1 Glass Bottle

22/10/2017

1 Glass Bottle 1 Can 1 metal bottle top

2/11/2017

1 Plastic Bottle 2 sweet packets 1 water bottle label 1 empty packet of prawn crackers

7/11/2017

3 cans 2 plastic bottles

12/11/2017

3 plastic bottles 2 cans 2 glass bottles 3 sweet packets

16/11/2017

12 cans

17/11/2017

3 cans 1 plastic bottle

19/11/2017

5 cans 1 tin on a string 4 plastic bottles 2 bottle tops

27/11/2017

8 cans

28/11/2017

4 cans

3/12/2017

6 cans 1 tin 1 glass piece 2 sweet packet parts 3 packet parts

5/12/2017

4 cans 1 glass piece

11/12/2017

1 can 1 plastic bottle 1 curved bar

14/12/2017

1 milk carton 1 metal rusted shovel

15/12/2017

1 large plastic bottle

18/12/2017

Cans - 14 Plastic Bottles - 6 Dog Poo Bags - 4 Crisp Packets - 2 Sweet Packets - 2

24/12/2017

2 glass bottles 7 cans 2 plastic bottles 6 rubber ball parts

25/12/2017

7 cans 1 glass bottle

26/12/2017

1 glass bottle 1 plastic bottle 8 cans 1 coffee cup with lid 1 sweet packet part

31/12/2017

4 cans 4 sweet packet parts 1 bottle tops

1/01/2018

1 tennis ball part 1 coffee cup 4 sweet packet parts

7/01/2018

2 cans 2 plastic bottles

11/01/2018

8 cans 1 glass bottle 5 plastic bottles 3 bottle lids

14/01/2018

1 can 1 glass piece 3 sweet packet part pieces

16/01/2018

1 plastic bottle 1 can

17/01/2018

2 cans

22/01/2018

2 cans

1 plastic bottle 1 plastic bag full of 2 beer can boxes

25/01/2018

2 glass bottles 7 cans 2 plastic bottles 3 plastic lids 1 metal nail 3 plastic pockets

26/01/2018

2 elastic bands 1 full dog poo bag 1 wellington boot 1 glass bottle 1 plastic bottle 3 cans 2 bottle lids 4 packet parts

28/01/2018

10 cans 2 plastic bottles 3 plastic bottle lids 3 sweet packet parts 1 small plastic fruit bag

4/02/2018

4 glass bottles 2 cans 4 plastic sweet packet parts 1 beer bottle lid

8/02/2018

4 plastic bottles 1 can 2 black tree growing equipment 4 plastic packets 3 empty dog poo bags 1 plastic bag

9/02/2018

1 can 4 plastic packets

11/02/2018

6 full dog poo bags 4 cans 1 plastic bottle 2 bottle lids 2 crisp packets 2 sweet packets 3 packet pieces 1 glass piece

18/02/2018

2 cans 3 glass bottles 2 plastic bottles 1 plastic bottle lid 1 glass piece 1 crisp packet 2 sweet packet pieces

19/02/2018

3 plastic bottles 2 cans 4 sweet packet parts

22/02/2018

5 cans 1 rusted metal part

23/02/2018

2 cans 1 plastic bottle 2 glass bottles

4/03/2018

1 plastic bottle 1 can

08/03/2018

2 bottle lids 1 glass bottle

09/03/2018

1 glass bottle 1 plastic bottle 1 can

13/03/2018

4 cans 1 plastic bottle 1 glass bottle 2 bits of broken glass 1 sweet packet part

22/03/2018

3 cans 1 glass bottle 2 plastic bottles

23/03/2018

2 glass bottles 2 plastic bottles 2 cans

25/03/2018

1 glass bottle 3 cans 1 glass piece 2 plastic bottles

27/03/2018

16 cans 7 plastic bottles 8 glass bottles 1 metal bowl 4 aluminium foils 3 sweet packets 2 coffee cups 1 burst yellow football

28/03/2018

2 glass bottles 1 can 3 sweet packet parts

6/04/2018

1 glass bottle 3 plastic bottles 6 cans

8/04/2018

1 plastic bottle 1 can

11/04/2018

3 cans 4 glass pieces

15/04/2018

2 glass bottles 7 cans 1 plastic ice cream carton 1 plastic milk carton 1 hidden dog poo bag 1 metal hook line

17/04/2018

1 can 1 plastic bottle 1 rusted long metal crowbar 3 sweet packet parts

19/04/2018

4 cans 2 plastic bottle caps 8 bits of soft dog ball 4 bits of tennis ball fur

20/04/2018

2 glass bottles 1 can 1 plastic bottle

22/04/2018

1 can 1 metal tent support pole

25/04/2018

2 plastic bottles 1 can 4 glass pieces 2 empty dog poo bags 1 crisp packet

29/04/2018

1 plastic bottle 3 glass parts 4 sweet packets

30/04/2018

1 can 1 glass bottle

3/05/2018

2 cans 1 plastic bottle 3 dog ball parts 8 plastic tree guards

6/05/2018

1 bottle lid part 3 cans

8/05/2018

3 cans 3 plastic bottles 2 glass bottles 1 children's plate 1 plastic container 3 bottle caps

9/05/2018

1 can 1 glass bottle

20/05/2018

5 tins 1 can 1 plastic bottle 2 glass bottles 7 bits of a yellow dog play ball

23/05/2018

1 glass bottle 2 glass pieces 1 plastic bottle 1 can

28/05/2018

4 plastic bottles 1 can 2 plastic lids 1 ball part 1 sweet packet part 1 long metal steel strip

31/05/2018

1 glass bottle 3 cans 1 crisp packet 5 sweet packet parts 2 metal bottle lids

3/06/2018

9 glass pieces 2 cans 2 plastic bottles 3 bottle lids

5/06/2018

1 plastic bottle 1 can 5 glass pieces 3 sweet packets

6/06/2018

1 can 1 plastic bottle

14/06/2018

1 diet cola plastic bottle 1 shoe slip 1 bottle top

15/06/2018

3 black socks 3 glass bottles 2 bottle tops 6 cans 3 plastic bottles 1 rusted metal handle

17/06/2018

1 can 1 plastic bottle of dry skin oil spray 2 tennis ball parts

19/06/2018

1 dog poo bag 1 pizza box 1 can 1 glass bottle

24/06/2018

2 cans 1 wet cardboard 1 plastic bottle 1 small net 3 glass pieces 1 crisp packet 3 bottle tops

25/06/2018

1 glass bottle 2 plastic bottles 4 cans 2 child's socks 4 sweet packets 1 cracked mini roll packet

27/06/2018

7 cans 2 plastic bottles 2 bottle tops 3 sweet packets

28/06/2018

4 glass bottles 5 metal rusted steel bars 5 sweet packet parts 1 broken glass packet 1 large plastic bottle 3 cans

29/06/2018

4 rusty metal steel bars 2 plastic bottles 15 glass pieces

4/07/2018

4 plastic bottles 1 worn ASDA bag 1 can 1 reindeer onesie 1 glass bottle

8/07/2018

2 cans 2 plastic bottles 1 plastic lid 1 metal bottle lid 6 bits of general waste

9/07/2018

3 crisp packets 3 glass pieces 1 half of a can 2 plastic bottles

13/07/2018

1 long hose (left beside the bin) 1 can 4 plastic bottles 4 glass pieces 1 cigarette packet 1 sock 2 sweet packet parts

16/07/2018

1 can 3.5 plastic bottles 5 glass pieces 4 plastic bag pieces 3 cigarette butts 3 sweet packet parts

17/07/2018

1 deflated rubber ring goose 8 pieces of glass

22/07/2018

1 can

23/07/2018

3 cans 5 plastic bottles

6/08/2018

1 Can 1 rusty metal strip

7/08/2018

1 rusty hard disk drive 1 black plastic cover 1 dirty carpet

10/08/2018

14 bits of glass 1 dog collar and tag 1 glass bottle 3 cans 5 plastic bottles 2 sweet packets 1 part of a dog poo bag

14/08/2018

2 cans 3 plastic bottles 2 full dog poo bags

15/08/2018

2 black socks 1 red wrecked clothing 1 plastic cigarette covering

19/08/2018

1 plastic bottle 1 dog leash

23/08/2018

2 black socks (1 long, the other short) 1 white towel 1 can 1 pair of small blue swimming trunks

2 plastic bottles from the new cemetery car park

29/08/2018

3 glass pieces 2 sweet packets 2 metal steel parts 1 plastic bottle 1 can 1 metal crisp packet part 1 plastic lid 1 burnt plastic bottle part

11/09/2018

12 bits of rubber dog ball 2 cans 1 plastic bottle

12/09/2018

5 glass pieces 2 sweet packets 2 glass bottles 1 plastic bottle 6 cans

15/09/2018

1 metal tray 1 bent metal small gutter

16/09/2018

2 cans 3 plastic bottles 1 plastic bag

1/10/2018

3 cans 2 plastic bottles

4/10/2018

1 can 1 plastic bottle 2 crisp packets

5/10/2018

4 sweet packets 1 plastic bottle

14/10/2018

5 cans 2 plastic bottles 4 sweet packet parts

18/10/2018

2 sweet packet parts 1 small plastic bag part 1 small glass piece 1 can 1 used plastic young tree protector 1 plastic straw

21/10/2018

1 plastic bottle 4 cans 2 sweet packets

28/10/2018

1 can 1 plastic bottle 2 paper receipts 1 part of a coffee cup 1 squished coffee cup 1 wet paper

7/11/2018

1 plastic bottle 3 cans

11/11/2018

3 cans 4 sweet packet parts 4 black and white plastic parts

15/11/2018

1 glass bottle 3 cans

16/11/2018

1 plastic bottle 2 cans

18/11/2018

2 cans

21/11/2018

1 can 1 plastic bottle 6 bits of dog ball

25/11/2018

1 can 2 green circular plastic parts 1 white hat left behind

2/12/2018

1 glass bottle 1 plastic bottle

4/12/2018

4 cans

23/12/2018

1 damaged dog ball 2 sweet packets 2 plastic bottles 2 cans

9/01/2019

1 plastic bottle 1 can 1 broken dog ball

24/01/2019

1 plastic bottle 1 crisp packet 1 glass bottle 2 cans

25/01/2019

6 plastic bottles 5 cans 2 sweet packets 7 bits of plastic tree growth guards

27/01/2019

2 cans 1 plastic fruit packet 1 bottle lid

7/02/2019

4 sweet packets 2 cans

17/02/2019

4 cans 2 plastic bottles 2 glass pieces 1 chewing gum piece 1 plastic bottle lid

18/02/2019

4 bottle caps 1 glass bottle 3 cans 1.5 plastic bottles

21/02/2019

2 glass bottles (1 was very small) 5 cans 3 plastic bottles 1 white plastic lollypop stick 1 spray accessory 4 sweet packets

5/04/2019

4 cans 2 plastic bottles 4 glass bottles

7/04/2019

1 can 1 plastic bottle

2/06/2019

3 plastic bottles 2 cans 1 plastic bottle lid 5 sweet packet parts

13/06/2019

6 bits of glass

20/06/2019

1 chewing gum 3 plastic dog ball parts

27/06/2019

1 Green Bluetooth Connector 3 Plastic Bottles 2 Cans

28/06/2019

6 Glass Pieces

21/07/2019

1 Plastic Bottle 1 Can 1 Plastic Pen top

23/08/2019

1 Can 1 set of crushed metal wired fence 1 empty plastic Gorilla glue bottle

*In the 5 days leading up to 23/08/2019, 4 cans were picked up on Milton Brae and 3 plastic bottles up The Crags

15/09/2019

3 sweet packets 1 paper receipt

19/10/2019

1 Shopping Bag 7 Plastic bottles (which were found in the bag)

20/10/2019

2 Plastic Bottles

24/11/2019

1 Can 3 plastic strimmer parts 1 Plastic Bottle 1 sweet packet

3/12/2019

1 Bag strap part 1 Sweet Packet Part 2 Cans 2 Plastic Bottles

13/12/2019

46 Cans 31 Plastic Bottles

19/12/2019

4 Cans 1 Plastic Bottle (from a black bin)

22/12/2019

3 Cans 2 Plastic Bottles

24/12/2019

1 Can 1 Paper Receipt

28/12/2019

2 Glass Bottles 3 Plastic Bottles 1 Can 1 Dog Ball Part

29/12/2019

1 badly used yogurt carton with wet paper

31/12/2019

1 Plastic Bottle 1 Plastic Tree Protector 1 Paper Royal Mail Receipt 1/3 of a plastic bottle 1 clear plastic bottle part

1/01/2020

1 purple Hawaiian t-shirt found in the car park close to Overtoun House 2 cans 1 rusty metal drain cover

2/01/2020

1 single use coffee cup 1 Glass Bottle 1 Can 1 Plastic Bottle

5/01/2020

1 Baby's Dummy 1 Plastic Bottle lid part 1 Sweet Packet 1 Plastic Bottle 1 Can 1 Glass Bottle

7/01/2020

1 Plastic Bottle 1 Can 1 metal vehicle exhaust

8/01/2020

1 Plastic Tree Protector 1 Can 1 Plastic Bottle 2 Plastic Bottle Lids 1 Glass beer bottle

11/01/2020

1 Can 1 Plastic Strimmer Piece

12/01/2020

1 Plastic Bottle 1 Can 1 Sweet Packet

15/01/2020

1 Glass Bottle

16/01/2020

1 Plastic Bottle

19/01/2020

2 Cans 1 Plastic Bottle

1 Can found on the Milton Brae

23/01/2020

1 Plastic Bottle 3 Sweet Packets

Total results are provided as below:

2017-2018 Overtoun Woods results

Glass Bottles - 47 Plastic Bottles - 101 Cans - 266.5 Glass Pieces - 25 Elastic Band - 1 Crisp & Sweet Packet Parts - 66 (included 1 packet of empty Prawn Crackers) Plastic Pieces - 7 Bottle Tops/Caps - 14 Can Tops - 2 1 Clingfilm part Ball Parts - 12 Plastic Straws - 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 Dog Poo Bags - 18 Coffee Cups - 2 Coffee Cup Lid - 1 Balls - 1 1 Screw Nut 1 Metal Nail 1 box of iboprufen with a paper instruction manual 1 yellow lighter 1 train ticket 1 drink carton 1 green frisbee 1 cigarette butt 1 piece of a shopping bag 1 shopping bag 1 Plastic can packet holder Papers - 3 1 Plastic Beer Can Holder packet Metals - 2 1 Balloon

2018-2019 results

Glass Bottles - 63 Plastic Bottles - 136 Cans - 210.5 Glass Pieces - 88 Bottle Caps/Lids/Tops - 25 Dog Poo Bags - 16 Elastic Bands - 4 Crisp/Sweet Packets - 108 1 wellington boot Plastic Bags - 3 Metals - 21 Plastics - 18 Dog Balls - 4.7 1 white hat left behind Plastic Straws - 1 Coffee Cups - 6 Papers - 3 Socks - 7 1 White Towel 1 pair of blue swimming trunks 1 red ruined clothing 1 reindeer onesie 1 dog leash 1 dog tag and collar 1 dirty carpet 1 rusty hard disk drive 1 deflated rubber ring goose 3 cigarette butts 1 cigarette packet 1 long hose (left beside the bin) 1 carpet 1 small net 1 pizza box 1 shoe slip 1 Children's Plate 4 bits of tennis ball fur 1 plastic ice cream carton 1 burst yellow football 4 aluminium foils 1 metal nail

2019-2020 results

Glass bottles - 14 Plastic bottles - 86.8 Bottle Lids (metal and plastic) - 9 Cans - 102 Glass Pieces - 12 Metals - 2 Sweet Packets - 25 Paper - 3 Dog Ball Parts - 4 Plastic Pieces - 14 1 Green Bluetooth Piece 2 Chewing Gums 1 Spray Accessory 1 Shopping Bag 1 Baby's Dummy 1 Crisp Packet 1 Fruit Packet 1 Purple Hawaiian T-Shirt (found in the car park) 1 Single Use Coffee Cup

From the data supplied above, there has been a considerable decline in litter found up the Lang Crags, especially highlighting the time supplied from late January 2019 to 23rd January 2020. However, there had been some increases in the numbers of litter collected in the period from late January 2018 until late January 2019, especially in Plastic Pieces, Plastic Bottles, Bottle Caps/Lids (mixture of both metal and plastic lids) and Glass Bottles, with a slight increase in the number of Single-use Coffee Cups and used-up dog balls found on the ground. There was a unique upward trend in the number of odd individual items found, primarily in the very lower part of the Gruggies Burn towards Campbell Avenue (and then meanders on towards the A82 Dual Carriageway for Strowans Road). During the period from late January 2019 to 23rd January 2020, there were significant days of absence especially in the late Winter, early spring and sometimes in the summer months because of not only my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis in my hands but also from holidays taken up in the months of mid-May, early-August and September which explains the lack of frequent data in those months.