GLASGOW school pupils have successfully reduced litter in their area by 80% thanks to a new litter-picking initiative. 

Students from Castlemilk High School mapped out locations of bins, carried out a litter audit, and held clean-ups in a pilot project with Glasgow City Council's Clean Glasgow. 

Research showed that many of the bins were on the opposite side of the road used more frequently by pupils, so a new 360-litre bin was installed nearer the local shops and takeaway van.

The council also ran a scheme with the school called Bin It To Win It, where pupils seen using the bins could win prizes like reusable water bottles and vouchers for McDonald's. 

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The pupils worked with the school's Faculty Head of Science, Gary Rushworth, who said: “The Bin It to Win It pilot project has helped make Castlemilk High School and its surrounding areas cleaner.

"We are proud of our environment and community and have received a lot of positive comments from local residents. We are delighted to be part of the campaign.

"The pupils have really enjoyed it and we’ve further reduced our environmental impact by increasing the amount we recycle in school.

"We intend to continue with Bin It to Win It next term.”

Pupils completed five community clean-ups over several months and recorded the type and quantity of litter found.

Plastic bottles, cans and takeaway wrappers were found to be the most commonly collected items, and numbers from the audits showed that between February and April 2022, the number of cans found on the route fell by 80%, the number of plastic bottles fell by 62% and the number of sweet wrappers fell by 59%.

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Councillor Ruairi Kelly, City Convener for Neighbourhood Services and Assets, praised the school for its hard work.

He said: “It’s great to hear of young people supporting the Clean Glasgow campaign by taking action on several fronts to improve their neighbourhood as part of our Bin It To Win It pilot.

"Glasgow is a great city and we all have a role to play in keeping it clean. The results of the pilot are very encouraging with a huge reduction in litter.

“The pilot has not only been educational and empowering for the pupils, it has also had a positive impact on the community.

"It’s great to hear that the pupils are keen to continue with it going forward and I’m also looking forward to seeing it introduced in more schools across the city.”