Transport Scotland and its South East Scotland operating company, BEAR Scotland, is launching a pilot scheme targeting littering on busy trunk roads in South East Scotland.
From mid-September LitterCam is being deployed on the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass and the A1 to record drivers or their passengers that throw litter from vehicles.
The cameras use AI software to detect any litter being thrown from a vehicle so that the prevalence of the issue can be measured at each location. The pilot scheme will run for six months.
BEAR Scotland is responsible for litter collection on some of Scotland’s motorways and on the key dual carriageways in the South East, such as the A720 and the A1 Expressway. Local authorities have responsibility for all other routes.
In the last 12 months BEAR has collected 3,018 bags of litter, equating to over 15 tonnes, on the A720, Edinburgh City Bypass.
Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland SE Network Manager says: “Scotland is renowned for its natural beauty, yet the amount of litter discarded on these major routes is an eyesore and an embarrassment.
“Littering is against the law. This trial uses the latest technology to record incidents of littering. It is hoped the project will prompt people to think twice about committing this anti-social behaviour.
“Working on high-speed roads comes with risk but the risks during litter picking could be completely avoided if drivers/passengers took litter home. The resources invested in picking litter could be ploughed into other tasks that contribute to keeping these strategic routes safe and reliable for the people of Scotland.”
Andrew Kemp, chief executive of Litter Cam, said: “On projects we’ve worked on elsewhere we’ve seen a 40% reduction in verge side litter. We are confident that working with Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland will help tackle the blight of litter on these strategic routes.”
Heather McLaughlin, Campaigns Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “There’s no debate about the impact roadside litter is having on our country: 90% of people believe it’s an issue.
“As the lead delivery partner on roadside litter for the government’s National Litter and Flytipping Strategy, we’re pleased to support BEAR’s continued efforts to tackle this issue.
“Roadside litter is not only dangerous for drivers, wildlife and those who have to clean it up, but it also has a financial cost. We all have a part to play: give your litter a lift or take it home.”
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