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Information about our litter picking equipment loan scheme
Greener Orkney lends litter picking equipment to support community clean-ups across Orkney.
This form is for individuals or groups wishing to borrow equipment. Please fill in the boxes and someone from Greener Orkney will get back to you to confirm availability and arrange pick up and drop off of the equipment.
There is no fixed loan period. Equipment is shared within the community. All we ask is that you please return items promptly, clean, and in good condition.
Application form (complete this to request equipment)
Thank you for contacting Greener Orkney
General instructions and safety advice for litter picking and beach cleans
Before You Go
- Become a member of Greener Orkney (if you aren’t already) to ensure insurance cover: www.greenerorkney.org.uk/membership/
- Plan your date and time, checking tide times for beach cleans
- Decide whether the activity is private or public
- Consider litter removal arrangements
- Borrow equipment if needed; bring your own gloves
- Read this advice fully
If your event is a public event…
…we would love to help you advertise it. Please let us know details at least two weeks in advance (by emailing info@greenerorkney.org.uk) so we can share it on our events calendar
Children and Young People
- Children are welcome to take part in litter picks and beach cleans but must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
- Activities should be age-appropriate
- Children should not pick up sharp, heavy, or hazardous items
- Adults should ensure children stay well away from traffic, cliffs, unstable ground, and the water’s edge
- Greener Orkney can provide Scavenger Hunt sheets to help engage children safely
On the Day
- Have clean water and a first aid kit
- Count volunteers at the start
- Give a safety briefing
General Safety
- Wear suitable clothing and footwear
- Be aware of tides, waves, traffic, and unstable ground
- Do not lift heavy or hazardous items
- Do not pick up sharp or unknown objects
Dead or Injured Birds
Do not touch dead birds. You can report dead birds if you find
- One dead bird of prey, swan, goose, duck or gull, or
- Five or more dead wild birds of other species
Report dead birds online at https://bit.ly/4ayfN3u or phone 03459 33 55 77
If you find injured or oiled birds you can call Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA): 03000 999 999
Marine Animals
Do not push live seals, dolphins or turtles back into the sea. Call British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR): 01825 765546
If you find a dead marine animal, you can report it online at: https://strandings.org/
Unexploded Ordnance
DO NOT TOUCH. Call 999, ask for the Coastguard, and follow their instructions
After the Activity
- Count volunteers back in
- If possible, weigh the litter you have collected and report to Greener Orkney
- If you would like to, there is a Scottish Islands Federation survey form on which you can record the types and amount of litter you have found
- For large fishing waste items, take a what3words reference and inform Greener Orkney
- Any items which could have originated from a salmon farm can be reported through this link – reports will be followed up and cleanup action taken where appropriate.