A LITTER picker in Lockerbie has revealed the worst offenders when it comes to discarded rubbish.
Marjatta Wildwood is part of the voluntary Lockerbie Wombles and Warriors Clean Up group and can regularly be seen gathering up refuse at the side of the road.
And she says the most dumped items in and around Lockerbie are convenience lunch products, cans, coffee cups and snack wrappers, adding: “Disposable vapes are everywhere, as are energy drink cans.”
Along with her fellow Wombles, Marjatta has carried out several group picks this year around the town, area by area.
She says in a normal year they gather enough waste to fill between 450-500 big green council bags.
Commenting on their findings in 2023, she said: “It’s very difficult to say if there is more or less rubbish this year. Initially there was a lot of very old rubbish that had built up in some areas and that took a lot of work to clear away. Now some areas are actually keeping much nicer because we clean up regularly.
“The APR road is the worst, we do clean up some of the lay-bys, just one can take several days of two-three hours each time and we have collected 40-50 big bags of very unpleasant rubbish, including dozens and dozens of old stale bottles of pee and bags of human faeces.”
Despite the challenges, she describes it as “actually good fun”, adding: “It’s very rewarding to clean up with the lovely people who come along, we get our fresh air and light exercise while doing something that is helping our community.”
To join the Wombles in 2024 and help clean up Lockerbie, find their group on Facebook.
