Give your litter a lift home as road verge cutting begins

Aberdeenshire Council is urging all road users to dispose of their litter responsibly as its annual roadside verge cutting programme gets underway in the coming days.

The council maintains around 3,500 miles of roads and more than 6,200 miles of rural verges, with teams set to begin cutting to improve visibility at junctions, bends and sight lines. 

However, growing volumes of litter on verges are creating serious challenges for both safety and the environment.

Discarded items such as cans, bottles, cups, wrappers and food packaging are frequently thrown from vehicles and become trapped in roadside grass and undergrowth. 

During cutting operations, this waste is shredded and spread further, making it harder, more hazardous and more costly to remove.

Philip McKay, head of Roads and Infrastructure at Aberdeenshire Council, said: “Far too often, our teams are encountering large amounts of litter across our roadside verges. Once it’s in the grass, it becomes extremely difficult to deal with and can pose risks to wildlife, the environment and those tasked with maintaining these areas.

“We provide litter bins across our towns and villages, and many food outlets do the same. There is simply no excuse for throwing rubbish from a vehicle or leaving it behind when walking. The responsibility lies with each of us, so please give your litter a lift home and dispose of it properly.”

As work gets underway, motorists are also being reminded to take extra care around verge cutting operations. Services will use tractors and operate under mobile traffic management, with signage in place to warn approaching drivers.

Mr McKay added: “Our teams and contractors are carrying out essential work to keep our roads safe. We ask drivers to slow down, be patient and pass with care. A few moments’ consideration helps keep everyone safe and allows this work to be carried out efficiently.”