Should Dundee try more 'community clean-ups' in bid to tackle rubbish hotspots?

Councillors in Dundee say they want to have more “community clean-ups” in a bid to tackle problems with dumped rubbish in the city and get people more involved in their local areas.

A three-day clean-up has been held in the Stobswell area this week. Council workers were supported by people doing community payback orders and local residents.

Councillor Heather Anderson, convenor of the local authority’s environment committee, told STV News that almost 100 tonnes of waste had been collected through the initiative since August 2022.

Councillor Heather Anderson says almost 100 tonnes of waste has been collected through the scheme. STV News

“It’s been hugely successful,” she said. “That stuff would otherwise be sitting on the street, sitting in back gardens, and it’s really engaged communities.

“People report stuff being left on streets all the time, it’s really upsetting.

“We’re going to carry on doing this.. I wish it wasn’t on the street, I’m glad it’s not on the street anymore and we’re just trying to encourage people to take a citizenship role in helping us clean it up.”

Community leaders in Stobswell have also welcomed the scheme as a chance to engage with residents about how to improve the area.

Colin Clement, of the Stobswell Forum, said: “The problem with refuse on the streets is quite complex – it’s not just as simple as ‘there’s not enough bins’ because what tends to happen is that the more bins you put on the street, they get full. If everybody just took a bit more responsibility, that would certainly help the situation.

“If people can see there’s a way to improve their environment on their street – that’s always a positive thing.

“We do have a reasonably strong neighbourhood-feel and community spirit. We’d just like to build on that, get more people involved, and give people a sense that this could be a really good place to live.”