Pawsome New Year Resolutions remove over 39 million pieces of litter
Dog owners making an environmental New Year Resolution have boosted the ranks of the “PAWS ON PLASTIC’ charity to 27,000.
Article Source: Paws on Plastic
Last Updated: 16 January 2025 14:35
The environmental dog charity (SCO51306) encourages dog owners to pick up a couple of pieces of litter on every walk, every day, removing over 39 MILLION pieces of litter a year from our streets, beaches, parks and countryside.
As Blue Monday approaches, and other resolutions crumble into apathy, PAWS ON PLASTIC offers a simple commitment when walking the dog every day anyway, that requires only a minute or two’s effort & no extra equipment, it’s a super simple way one to make and KEEP that actually makes you feel good!
Founded in Stonehaven, NE Scotland, in November 2018 by Primary School Teacher, Marion Montgomery, PAWS on PLASTIC, continues to attract dog owners keen to play their part in fighting plastic pollution, attracting new members and followers on Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky & LinkedIn.
“January can be a hard month for many people, and so many New Year Resolutions fall by the wayside adding to the depression,’ said Marion. ‘Picking up a few pieces of litter is such a simple but extremely positive thing to do when we’re out walking our dogs anyway. The thing most people don’t realise is just how good it is for mental health. It’s extremely empowering and satisfying to take a simple positive action that has such an immediate and visible impact. The simple fact is, if you love animals you don’t DROP litter as it hurts animals. We feel that we should also take that extra wee step to pick up a couple of pieces when we can. It’s a simple thing to do to protect dogs, wildlife and our precious environment from harm.
We are all busy nowadays and it’s often hard to find the time for things. The beauty of Paws on Plastic is that no extra time or effort is required as it only takes a minute to pick up a couple of pieces of litter as part of your everyday dog walking routine.”
“The strength of Paws on Plastic really is its simplicity.” says Marion: “Dog owners are already out there walking our dogs every day. We see the litter and many of us unfortunately have experienced our dogs being injured by it, either eating something that’s been dropped or cutting paws on broken glass. As responsible dog owners, we all should have a spare bag in our pocket & it just takes a second to pick up a couple of pieces. With 27,000 of us, just picking up 2 pieces of litter on 2 daily walks, that’s 108,000 pieces a day, or over 39.5 MILLION a year although, most people pick up more as it is rather addictive! With over 12 million dogs in the UK alone, imagine the impact if we all did our own small bit. That’s the overall aim of Paws on Plastic – simply to make picking up a couple of pieces of litter a normal part of an everyday dog walk. We really have an enormous impact on areas where there are lots of us out every day as then it actually reduces the amount of litter dropped. Studies show that fewer people drop litter in clean areas so it has a double effect.”
Membership has spread to over 70 countries in 6 continents around the world, showing the worldwide desire among dog owners to do play their part. Dogs, like many animals, are naturally attracted to litter, with many picking up plastic bottles and cans. Once your dog has played with one, it’s up to you to dispose of it carefully. The charity does not recommend encouraging dogs to pick up litter although the idea came from dogs doing it naturally. So many animals are injured by litter. The charity encourages dog owners to pick up litter, including that left by irresponsible dog owners, to protect animals, communities and the environment.
EDUCATION on the consequences of litter is also one of the charity’s key aims. Marion regularly visits schools with her dogs, gives talks to community and youth groups, businesses and organisations and runs litterpicks and beach cleans for them.
PAWS ON PLASTIC also runs monthly beach cleans on Stonehaven Beach on the first Saturday of the month, 10-11am with the PLASTIC FREE STONEHAVEN community group of which she is also Lead. Since February 2023 the volunteers have removed over 100,000 kgs of waste. The response from the community has been fantastic with families turning out in all weathers to do their bit for their local environment. There are reward cards for young volunteers and it’s great seeing the enthusiasm for environmental action.
(PLASTIC FREE STONEHAVEN is a community group which gained ‘Plastic Free’ status for the town from SURFERS AGAINST SEWAGE in July 2024.)
To join Paws on Plastic, search on Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky and LinkedIn via the links below. You can also register for updates using the link on our website pawsonplastic.org.uk.
Members are responsible for keeping themselves & any accompanying companions safe. All pieces picked up are helping to reduce the amount of plastic ending up in the sea.
Website: pawsonplastic.org.uk/
Members’ Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/344123186321129/
Instagram Page: www.instagram.com/pawsonplastic/
Sponsored Links
Latest Glasgow News
Flight Club is giving out hundreds of prizes on the streets of Glasgow in October
The team behind the home of Social Darts is embarking on a nationwide charity tour in celebration of its 10th birthday and dishing out treats to its fans along the way!
READ MORE
GlasGLOW adds extra week after 35,000 tickets snapped up in days
City's biggest Halloween show extended as nostalgia-fuelled 'Miles Better' theme takes Glasgow by storm, with new dates on sale on Wednesday 17th September at 7.30am!
READ MORE
Wedding venue Crossbasket Castle unveils exquisite new menu curated by Michelin starred chef Michel Roux
Scotland's premier five-star luxury wedding destination, Crossbasket Castle, has unveiled a new decadent wedding menu crafted exclusively by world-renowned Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux.
READ MORE
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate joins full cast of Death on the Nile at the Theatre Royal
The full cast has been announced for Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile which comes to the Theatre Royal Glasgow in February.
READ MORE
Spooky season returns to town with the announcement of Paisley Halloween Festival 2025
Paisley Halloween Festival will return to town next month to celebrate the spooky season with a packed programme of frightful fun for all the family!
READ MORE
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.
READ MORE
Matilda the Musical comes to Glasgow for the first time
The Royal Shakespeare Company's smash hit production of Matilda The Musical, based on Roald Dahl's beloved book, will come to Glasgow for the very first time in 2026!
READ MORE
Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025
Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!
READ MORE
A jewellery store in Glasgow Fort is doubling in size following investment
Family-owned national diamond, jewellery and watch retailer, Beaverbrooks, is doubling the size of its Glasgow Fort store with a £1.3m investment.
READ MORE
Forget a boring beige Christmas in Glasgow...
This festive season at SWG3, Bongo's Bingo is transporting everyone back to the time where coloured tree lights and flammable tinsel ruled supreme!
READ MORE
Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on
Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.
READ MORE
Popular Sunday BBQ returns to Glasgow favourite Sebbs
One of Glasgow's favourites is flipping the idea of a traditional roast on its head with the return of its Sunday BBQ later this month.
READ MORE
Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie
Marston's and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up once more to serve up The Best Ever Pub Pie to locals across the country.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour
Òran, the award-winning sell-out hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn as company Wonder Fools take their work to a host of venues across Scotland.
READ MORE
SOAPYFEST raises thousands for Beatson Cancer Charity and Marie Curie
The Barrowland Ballroom was filled with love, laughter, and music as friends, family and supporters came together for SOAPYFEST, raising over £18K in support of Beatson Cancer Charity and Marie Curie
READ MORE
M&Ds teams up with Zombie Infection for a heart pounding, live action horror attraction
M&D's is set to transform into Scotland's Scream Park with the launch of Zombie Checkpoint, a live action immersive horror experience creating a heart racing adventure not for the faint hearted.
READ MORE
Topgolf Glasgow launches new field goal challenge game this autumn
Topgolf Glasgow is bringing a taste of the gridiron to Scotland this autumn with the launch of its brand-new Field Goal Challenge game.
READ MORE
GlasGLOW sells over 20,000 tickets in first hour as fans rush to relive 80s magic
GlasGLOW fever has gripped Glasgow once again, with more than 20,000 tickets for this year's GlasGLOW's Miles Better show snapped up within just 60 minutes of being released.
READ MORE
Iconic films to take centre stage at Vue venues in Scotland
Iconic movies celebrating key milestones this year are returning to Vue for a limited run - including Steven Spielberg classic Jaws.
READ MORE
20 expert sessions at The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show
The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show will be packed with expert speakers when it returns to the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on 4th – 5th October 2025.
READ MORE
A Taste of Loch Lomond Book launches with live cooking demo at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival
Love Loch Lomond will officially launch its new publication, A Taste of Loch Lomond – Stories and Flavours from the Bonnie Banks, at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival on Sunday 7th September.
READ MORE
Even more acts added to Tenement Trail 2025, set to take over the East End on Saturday 11th October
Multi-venue music festival taking over Glasgow's East End this October confirms Dead Pony and 14 new acts!
READ MORE
2025 Aye Write programme announced as tickets go on sale for annual book festival
Tickets will go on sale for Aye Write, Glasgow's long-established and much-loved book festival, at 11am today.
READ MORE
Seriously fun ideas for your work Christmas Party
It might only be September, but the C-word is not too far away, so it's time to start thinking about planning the annual office Christmas shindig before everything gets booked up!
READ MORE
Birds Fried Chicken launches collaboration series with Corner Shop
Birds Fried Chicken is taking its signature Southern-style fried chicken out of its natural Shawlands habitat and into new, unexpected settings with the launch of Rare Birds!
READ MORE
Buchanan Galleries champions Zero Waste Week with retailer initiatives for conscious consumers
Buchanan Galleries is marking Zero Waste Week (1 – 5 September 2025) by showcasing the centre's wide range of sustainable retail initiatives!
READ MORE
Business Gateway launches its first ever Scottish Start Up Month
Business Gateway, Scotland's national business support service, has launched Scottish Start-Up Month, a nationwide campaign to celebrate Scotland's entrepreneurial spirit.
READ MORE
Pop up play town brings big imaginations to little ones
A new role-play experience is popping up in community venues across Greater Glasgow this month bringing pint-sized professions and plenty of pretend fun to preschoolers and their families.
READ MORE
Local musicians to perform at outdoor charity concert at Nostrana restaurant
Summer may be over, but music festival season is still here, with an exciting outdoor concert in aid of Mary's Meals taking place in Glasgow's West End on Sunday 7th September.
READ MORE
Double the thrills this Halloween at Glasgow Science Centre
Glasgow Science Centre is inviting budding detectives down to the Clyde-side this October to help them solve the murder of the millennia – with a science twist.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links