Beach Cleans

Greener Orkney organises regular beach cleans at sites across Mainland. From May to August we only clean specific areas to avoid disturbing nesting birds.

Total amount of beach litter gathered to date

Volunteers involved

kg of rubbish removed

What we do

As well as cleaning the shorelines, Greener Orkney participates in the Scottish Islands Federation’s Marine Litter Surveys four times a year and also publishes the data as part of the Marine Conservation Society

Greener Orkney was also one of the lead participants in “Bag the Bruck” in 2023 and 2024 and in October 2024 was awarded a grant by Marine Fund Scotland to fulfill two paid roles over the winter months to facilitate the collection and analysis of the marine litter on northern Orkney Isles.  We will be publishing progress reports on this project in the “news” section of this website.

We are pleased to work with local organisations and individuals who want to take part in beach cleaning and maintain a stock of litter picking equipment which can be borrowed.

Why are beach cleans important?

Marine litter and particularly plastic waste like rope fragments can be very harmful to animal life and its removal from the beaches will have a positive impact on this serious problem.

What’s more, many beaches are a valuable public recreation space and visitors’ enjoyment will be enhanced by a clean environment.

Data gathering regarding the volume and composition of waste is hugely important as it helps track litter back to source so assists efforts to find solutions to the problem. 

Beach Clean totals from December 2021

DateLocationTotal litter (kg)Volunteers
November 2024Fourth Barrier
Warebeth
132
17
8
6
October 2024Warebeth
Westray, Skaill Storehouse south
14
20
4
1
September 2024Warebeth
Westray, Aikerness
Fourth barrier
Birsay
Westray, Quoygrew
Scapa beach
Westray, Tafts
Warebeth
Stronsay (3)
10
102
36
7
62
36
174
20
122
3
7
5
2
3
11
1
3
5
August 2024
Warebeth164
July 2024Houton
Scapa beach
10
3
4
2
June 2024Fourth barrier
Warebeth
60
17
4
5
May 2024Scapa beach7112
April 2024Warebeth
Scapa Beach
Rack Wick / Breckness
Scapa Beach
Fourth Barrier
41
21
130
15
10
14
5
8
4
2
March 2024Houton
Scapa Beach
28
89
4
14
February 2024Warebeth
Scapa Beach
Warebeth
Fourth barrier
33
97
3
50
10
11
2
3
January 2024Warebeth
Bay of Skaill
26
2
5
1
December 2023Fourth barrier343
November 2023Warebeth
Bay of Skaill
Scapa Beach
Fourth Barrier
Warebeth
Birsay
24
3
9
26
20
28
7
2
5
5
2
10
October 2023Aikerness122
September 2023Bay of Skaill
Dingieshowe
Fourth barrier
21
13
28
4
6
4
August 2023Birsay
Scapa Beach
Bay of Skaill
11
16
2
5
2
3
July 2023Scapa Beach162
May 2023TBC225
April 2023Evie
Sandwick, South Rondaldsay
Warebeth
Scapa Beach
4
35
163
39
3
6
40
6
March 2023Fourth barrier
Dingieshowe
Bay of Skaill
45
25
86
7
6
8
FebruaryScapa Beach
Netherton Road End
Holm
Scapa Beach
40
12
18
198
10
2
3
40
January 2023Birsay
Bay of Skaill
Warebeth
39
20
13
20
4
3
December 2022Fourth barrier585
November 2022Warebeth 353
October 2022Scapa Beach4910
August 2022Fourth barrier24011
July 2022Stromness257
April 2022Houton Head30911
March 2022Warebeth18818
February 2022Newark Bay (Deerness)12522
January 2022Houton Beach20720
December 2021Bay of Skaill117
Totals to date3,743512

* Weight totals include some large items such as tyres, large nets, feeding pipes etc. where it has been practical to weigh them on site.

Upcoming Events

Greener Orkney (SC049148) undertakes regular beach cleans.

We have litter picking equipment available for people to borrow and also are undertaking Marine Conservation Society beach litter surveys.

We would love it if you could make it along. Please email us: greenerorkney@gmail.com or message us on Facebook.

We recommend you check social media close to each date just in case of last minute changes

 

Help make a difference

Greener Orkney also offers beach cleaning equipment to people who do their own beach cleans. If you are interested in helping or need any beach cleaning equipment do join us as a member and contact us on greenerorkney@gmail.com.

“Before” and “after” views – 42kg of mainly plastic waste removed.

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