National Litter and Flytipping Strategy

Every year, millions of items are dropped as litter and tonnes of material is flytipped in Scotland, with at least £60 million of public money spent annually to clean it up - money that could be better spent on other services.  

On top of this, litter and flytipping prevention can ‘close the loop’ in a circular economy. We have to recognise that everything we use and throw away is a resource which has a value, a value that we should preserve, capture, and use again wherever possible. 

Reducing litter and flytipping will allow us to: 

• Value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations. 
• Reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production.
• Ensure our public services are high quality, continually improving, efficient, and responsive to local people’s needs.
• Live in well-designed, sustainable places where we can access the amenities and services we need. 

The National Litter and Flytipping Strategy, developed in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency following engagement with other key partners and stakeholders, including local authorities and landowners, has been informed by wide-ranging feedback. 

It sets out how national and local government, business, third sector, communities and individuals can work together, through innovative behaviour change, improved infrastructure and strengthened enforcement, to better value our resources as a society and prevent the escape of materials from the economy. 

The delivery framework of this strategy will comprise three elements: a high-level strategy setting out a vision and strategic objectives; legislative action to prevent and tackle litter and flytipping; and annual action plans setting out in detail activity needed to deliver the outcomes and vision. 

The publication of this six-year strategy is accompanied by a 2023-24 Action Plan detailing specific actions and interventions that will be progressed in the first year of the strategy. 

Find the Litter and Flytipping Strategy on the Scottish Government website here.

Litter and flytipping pollution impacts on many organisations and communities. For these reasons it is vital that there is strategic, coordinated action to develop and deploy effective solutions, focused on prevention.  

Recognising the different drivers of litter and flytipping, this strategy has been developed as a National Litter and Flytipping Strategy, to allow a tailored approach to be taken to each issue.