WIREDGOV

Thousands of people are to take part in a campaign to tidy up Scotland's streets, parks, beaches and open spaces.

Around 68,000 volunteers - almost 10,000 more than last year - will participate in this month's National Spring Clean 2010 which is organised by the Keep Scotland Beautiful charity.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

"Tens of thousands of people have already signed up to clean their communities this month - and it's fantastic news that we've broken last year's record. During the 2009 campaign enough litter to fill almost 30,000 wheelie bins was collected, which highlights the scale of the problem we must tackle as we strive to create a cleaner, greener Scotland. I would urge those who haven't yet registered to do their bit and get involved in this blitz on litter that blights our nation."

John Summers OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful said:

"National Spring Clean is one of Scotland's biggest volunteer events and schools, community groups, businesses and individuals across the length and breadth of the country will be joining forces in April to tackle our litter problem.

"Scotland has truly beautiful scenery and we want everyone, local and visitor, to see it and enjoy it without having to peer through plastic bags caught on trees, or discarded fast food wrappers in bushes, roadsides and pavements.

"The Scottish tax payer forks out £1million a year to clean our streets and remove litter which people have dropped, and we want everyone to have some pride this year and look after the country we live in, and which over 1,000 groups are cleaning up for us this April."

Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) is an environmental charity which aims to protect, preserve and enhance the environment of town and country in Scotland for the benefit of the public. Keep Scotland Beautiful administers the People and Places, Keep Scotland Tidy, Blue Flag and Seaside Award, and the Eco-Schools environmental programmes along with the Sustainable Scotland Network, Climate Challenge Fund and Going Carbon Neutral Stirling campaigns.

Keep Scotland Tidy is supported by the Scottish Government through its Zero Waste Scotland Programme.

National Spring Clean will take place throughout Scotland from April 1 to 30, 2010

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