West Dunbartonshire Council’s Greenspace team is helping to facilitate a major environmental initiative bringing together local authorities, community volunteer groups, schools and businesses across the area.
The Big Clyde Clean Up aims to improve the river corridor, tackle litter and pollution, and inspire long-term pride in Scotland’s waterways. Running in alignment with Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Spring Clean Scotland 2026 campaign and the Upstream Battle project, there will be a series of local and regional clean-up activities designed to make a lasting impact.
The highlight of the programme will be the Clyde-Wide Flagship Event, taking place on Saturday 14 March. On these dates, simultaneous clean-up operations will occur along key points of the Clyde corridor, including locally. A follow-up event is then scheduled for Saturday 18 April.
West Dunbartonshire Council is working closely with local volunteer groups—many already registered as Greenspace volunteers—and encouraging clubs and businesses to get involved. Equipment has been distributed to participating groups and volunteers.
The Council hopes that once established, the initiative will be led by local groups. Dumbarton Football Club (DFC) and Vale of Leven Football Club have already pledged their support with more local organisations encouraged to join.
Hire company McNicholl has also pledged a van for the March weekend to assist with lifting bags of litter once full.
Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development, Councillor David McBride, said: “This is a great opportunity for members of the community to get involved in a wide-reaching litter picking initiative to improve the appearance of the area and benefit the environment. I am delighted that the Council’s Greenspace department are leading the way in encouraging participation in the event.”
Vice Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development, Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, said: “I would encourage businesses, community groups and individuals to get involved with this important initiative, taking the opportunity to be involved in this large-scale project.”
For more information or to express early interest, please contact Community Greenspace Officer Andy Devine on andy.devine@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Why bother it’s a never ending task.
Our industrial complex produces plastic big time. It’s what they do. Plastic is a huge cause of waste.
And meanwhile the local authorities make it ever more difficult and expensive to dispose of waste. Charging is their thing as anyone who has visted a waste station with a van or a pickup knows. Or household waste uplift. That too is chargeable And so more waste finds its way into places where it shouldn’t.
And then there’s the waste folks cannot clean up. The toxic discharges from legal and illegal landfills all over West Dunbartonshire. Out of sight out of mind they leak their cancer causing toxins to a somnolent populace. This after all is Dumbarton and not Bearsden. But it’s not just Dumbarton that pollutes the Clyde.
Anyway, I dont suppose we would really have it any other way. That is sadly the politics of it. That is the reality.
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