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 Edinburgh News
DofE Gold Award holders were guests of honour at The Palace of Holyroodhouse
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh welcomed Gold DofE Award holders to The Palace of Holyroodhouse this morning at a very special event to mark their achievements.
READ MORE
BTS fans take the spotlight in latest K Pop documentary heading to Vue
BTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom comes to Vue.
READ MORE
Plenty of summer family fun at Vue venues across Scotland
Family favourites and animated adventures are heading to the big screen this summer holiday at Vue venues across Scotland.
READ MORE
Capital Theatres celebrates history of Kings Theatre with launch of The Peoples Archive
Capital Theatres has today launched The People’s Archive, a digital exhibition that celebrates the rich history and cultural legacy of the King’s Theatre.
READ MORE
Mother and Daughter duo crowned ultimate Stitch fans in Edinburgh
A Disney-loving mum and her one-year-old daughter have been crowned Edinburgh’s biggest Stitch fans after winning a competition hosted by Fort Kinnaird.
READ MORE
Dinosaurs roar to life in a Jurassic takeover at Livingston Designer Outlet
Livingston Designer Outlet goes Jurassic crazy this July with lifelike dinosaurs, ranger training and endless photo opportunities for the whole family to enjoy.
READ MORE
Fife & Forth Bridge Steam Train Journey Announced
Departing on Saturday 29th November 2025 at from Edinburgh Waverley, this enchanting lunchtime journey will be led by the iconic 60532 Blue Peter.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Film Festival announces 2025 Programme
Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has today announced its programme of screenings and events for its 2025 edition.
READ MORE
GreenFox Energy powers up Party at the Palace with first solar festival stage in Scotland
Party at the Palace will host Scotland’s first solar-powered festival stage, the GreenFox Energy Breakthrough Stage, twinning clean energy and the joy of live music.
READ MORE
Gilded Balloon announce a star studded line up for special 40th anniversary shows
Gilded Balloon has unveiled a huge line-up of comedy stars to take part in a special ‘40 Years of Fringe’ in conversation series, to celebrate the venue’s 40th anniversary.
READ MORE
SAY Award opens submissions for eligible albums
Scotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Film Festival announces 2025 Festival Footprint
Ahead of its programme launch on 2 July, EIFF venues will include Filmhouse, Cameo Cinema, Vue Omni and a new pop-up screen at National Galleries Scotland: National.
READ MORE
New dining chapter begins at Edinburgh restaurant inspired by famous author
One of Edinburgh’s most popular city centre restaurants has started a new dining chapter at its famous Castle Street venue.
READ MORE
Garner Hotels Debuts in Scotland with the Opening of Garner Hotel Edinburgh in Haymarket
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) today announces the opening of Garner Hotel Edinburgh - Haymarket, a 195-room flagship hotel bringing a fresh energy to the city’s West End.
READ MORE
Edinburgh pupils discover the world of beekeeping with educational day at Fort Kinnaird
Pupils from local Edinburgh primary schools swapped the classroom for beekeeping as they had the chance to visit Fort Kinnaird’s thriving beehives for a day buzzing with educational fun.
READ MORE
Magic of Christmas set to make Edinburgh sparkle this Winter
Edinburgh started to unwrap its annual Christmas present, with the announcement of this year’s festive celebration dates and a first hint of what to expect this year.
READ MORE
Nicola Benedetti brings the Edinburgh International Festival to NHS Hospital with Live Performance
Edinburgh International Festival Director and Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti performed alongside guitarist Plínio Fernandes as part of a series of NHS Festival Sessions.
READ MORE
Cineworld announces 1 pound Family Films all summer long
Cineworld has today announced £1 Family Films, running every week from July 25, so that families can be more childish together all summer long.
READ MORE
Great value summer holiday activities at Dobbies Garden Centres
This summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.
READ MORE
How funkiest charity shop in Edinburgh is helping homeless
The Bothy Boutique in central Edinburgh is the retail arm of The Breakfast Bothy, a small grassroots charity supporting people in the community who are experiencing homelessness.
READ MORE
Five star campsite near Edinburgh named best in Scotland
Drummohr Camping and Glamping Site at Musselburgh was named Camping Site of the Year in the 2025 Scottish Hospitality Awards.
READ MORE
Fringe Happening at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
With the Fringe Festival right on the doorstep, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is once again hosting a fantastic array of shows and activities!
READ MORE
Newtongrange Primary School ends academic year on a high with prestigious UNICEF UK Gold Award
Pupils at Newtongrange Primary School have even more reason to celebrate the end of a successful academic year, having just been awarded the UNICEF UK Gold Award.
READ MORE
First Look inside newly refurbished Filmhouse cinema
Edinburgh’s landmark cinema Filmhouse has today revealed images of its new screens and spaces ahead of its public reopening tomorrow Friday 27 June.
READ MORE
FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores returns on 5th and 6th July
Summerfest, the FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores, is back on the 5th and 6th of July with lots of things to see and do!
READ MORE
Widest ranging exhibition of Italian Renaissance drawings in 50 years to be staged in Edinburgh
Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Titian will be among 45 Italian Renaissance drawings going on display in Scotland for the first time this October.
READ MORE
Inspiring climate action through the Edinburgh Climate Festival
Edinburgh Climate Festival returns on 28th June. A free festival that aims to celebrate & inspirate climate action in our local communities.
READ MORE
Earlybird tickets drive buzz for 2026 Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show
The biggest show of its kind in Scotland returns with Earlybird tickets and a give-away with headline sponsor Border Caravans!
READ MORE
Pret gets ready for Pride with free glow up and goodies
This weekend, in celebration of Edinburgh Pride, Pret A Manger is turning up the sparkle with an in-shop glow-up station!
READ MORE
July events at Dobbies Garden Centres
Check out July at Dobbies with it's Little Seedlings Club on rainforests and Grow How on pest control and healthy gardens!
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links