Fly-tipping problem highlighted in run up to annual clean-up weekend
(Story dated: Saturday, April 15, 2006)

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Spring is here, apparently, and that means one thing — Bag the Bruck.

Environmental Concern Orkney’s (ECO) beach cleaning initiative is in its 13th year and this time, the official opening at Scapa beach is on Saturday, April 22 from 10.30am to 12.30pm, when everyone is welcome to go along.

ECO’s secretary, Susan Ferguson, said: “Orkney Islands Council continues to give our Bag the Bruck campaign their complete backing through the ongoing provision of bags, gloves and the additional council-wide refuse collections that pick up the thousands of filled bags after hundreds of busy volunteers have completed their clean-ups.

“ECO is also delighted to receive VisitOrkney sponsorship this year. They have given our information leaflets, posters and advertising a much more professional look, and their sponsorship will cover administration costs, which is a tremendous help to our small voluntary organisation.”

Asked about the state of the Orkney beaches at the moment, Ms Ferguson said: “Many of the beaches, fences and roadside verges are in a poor state. Others have fared a little better.

“Gales and high tides throw around feed bags, baler plastic, plastic bottles, off-cuts of netting, strapping and twine from various sources means some groups will have quite a task on their hands.

“Others, because of the prevailing gales, may get off a bit more lightly,” she added.

“These clean-up operations are only successful because we have willing volunteers who are prepared each year to give up their time. Some of our stalwarts choose to collect all year round, which is a superb effort.

“So far, we have more than 70 sites being tackled this year. It isn’t just our beaches that receive attention. Many volunteers opt to tackle the rubbish dumped along road verges and lochsides, since they are also often littered with sweet papers, baler wrap and plastic containers.”

Asked whether she has seen any reduction in the rubbish and debris over the years, Ms Ferguson said that where groups and individual volunteers are year-on-year tackling the same area, there is a noticeable difference from the first year.

“Decades worth of large stuff has now been cleared and the clean-ups now are only clearing one year’s worth of debris — which is still a lot,” she said.

The most worrying aspect for ECO at the moment is evidence of fly-tipping that is still going on around the Orkney coastline.

Ms Ferguson said: “Rubbish is dumped by individuals who obviously feel they have a right to mess up fields, heathland, ditches and areas of the coastline, just because they can.

“Walking around Birsay and Marwick last week, it was apparent that trailer loads of rubbish that included computers, plastic wrap, fencing wire and furniture, had been tipped along the shoreline recently and this is repeated across the county.”

A trailer load of rubbish has been emptied at the stunning Long Gloup Geo, off Whitaloo Point.

“These incidents seem much more belligerent today since there are now many ways and opportunities to correctly dispose of debris and rubbish,” added Ms Ferguson.

“Here on the Mainland, we have recycling centres, civic amenity sites and special collections provided by the council.

“All of the rubbish dumped here illegally in the geo could easily have been put into skips provided in either Stromness, Finstown or Bossack civic amenity sites. Unbelievably, many people refuse to take responsibility to deal with their own waste.

“I’ve watched passengers and drivers emptying rubbish out of their cars as they drive along — alcohol bottles and cans, sweet papers, plastic bottles, sandwich containers and the contents of their ashtray.

“They prefer to spoil and litter the countryside and road verges rather than spend two minutes taking it home, out of the car and putting it into a bin.”

On a more positive note she said: “In Orkney, we are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful, diverse countryside and coastline. Most people recognise this and do respect it and our amazing wildlife.

“Certainly, Bag the Bruck supporters have, over the years, valiantly cared for their local environment by successfully clearing tonnes of rubbish from the countryside.

“With their help again this year, Orkney will continue looking more pristine over the spring and summer months for the influx of tourists and, more importantly, their efforts will ensure that less wildlife die or suffer injury by waste debris.

“People are acutely aware that our main industries and our local businesses rely on a clean Orkney environment and image. For all these reasons the annual clean up is vital to us all.”