Rhona recognised for dedication to local environment

Rhona Hunter has been presented with a Clean Up Scotland Hero award by the environmental charity for her dedicated solo litter picking as a volunteer with ACE (Angus Clean Environments) through the Adopt-A-Street scheme.

The awards are presented monthly to those who have helped to make a difference in their local areas.

A lifelong Carnoustie resident, Rhona has litter picked for around two years. As a hairdresser, lockdown resulted in her being unable to work and, while walking around her local area, she noticed a great deal of litter and wanted to do something about it.

Over the course of her volunteering, she has picked up a total of 63 and a half bags of rubbish.

She commented that in the course of her collections she gathered an abundance of poo bags and encouraged dog owners to bin what they pick up while walking their pets.

Rhona was presented with her award by Keep Scotland Beautiful CEO Barry Fisher, part of which was a clean-up kit from the charity’s partner Helping Hand Environmental which includes a new litter picker, handi-hoop bag holder, gloves and high vis vest.Rhona voiced her concern on the effects of littering on the area’s natural heritage, saying: “I’m pleased to have received this award. I do what I do because I don't like seeing litter damaging our ecosystem and our climate.

"We all need to change our ways, take responsibility for our actions and dispose of our litter in a bin."

Heather McLaughlin, campaigns officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “People such as Rhona, who give their time to cleaning up their local areas, are true heroes.

"Over the past decade we have seen a steady increase in the amount of litter across Scotland. However, despite the challenges we have all faced over the last 18 months we have been heartened by the increasing number of people like Rhona taking action to tackle litter across our beautiful country and keep it beautiful. I’d like to thank Rhona for her commitment to keeping Scotland beautiful.”

Nominations for the award can be made on the Keep Scotland Beautiful website.