Reporting Litter Issues
Not everything you come across should go in your bag. Some items are dangerous, and some need reporting through a different channel so the right team can deal with them. This page explains what to leave well alone and how to report it.
The golden rule: if in doubt, don't touch it - note where it is and report it. Pinpointing the exact spot helps enormously, so the What3Words app is worth having on your phone.
Never pick these up
Mai on litter picking duty. Photo used with kind permission of Dawn Lynch.
For your own safety, leave the following where they are and report them:
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Needles, syringes or any drug-related litter (use council Needles and Syringes Reporting Form)
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Unidentified cans, canisters, drums, flares or chemical containers [what needs doing?]
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Asbestos or anything you suspect might be asbestos [what needs doing?]
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Fly-tipped waste (use council Fly Tipping Reporting Form)
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Dead animals (use council Dead Animal Reporting Form)
For a serious environmental incident - such as oil, fuel or chemicals entering a burn, river or drain, the body to contact in Scotland is SEPA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Other waste
Some waste should be disposed of separately or through a different channel:
Vapes - count as hazardous Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). If you choose to collect them, bag them separately from your general litter, mark the bag clearly, and let the council know you've left a bag of vapes so it's handled correctly.
Abandoned Trolleys - trolleys are the retailer's responsibility to retrieve, through their collection contractors. Report them at the trolley's actual location, as the apps use your current position to log the spot:
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Asda - report via TMS Collex
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Most other retailers in West Lothian - report via TrolleyWise (Wanzl)
Litter bins and persistent litter
If a street litter bin is damaged or overflowing, you think an area needs a new or replacement bin, or somewhere is suffering persistent litter (for example, waste coming from a commercial premises), you can log it with the council.