Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse Zonation and Implementation Plan 2019

This plan explains how NatureScot has zoned and prioritised its publicly accessible land for the purposes of fulfilling its duty under the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse to maintain them in a litter free state.

Published: June 2019

Scottish Natural Heritage (NatureScot) is subject to duties set out in the Scottish Government’s 4^th “Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse (Scotland) 2018 - Statutory guidance on keeping land free of litter and refuse, and roads clean”  issued under section 87(7) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as amended) 

This Code sets out two duties.  Every relevant public body must, so far as practicable – 

1. ensure its land (or land under its control), is kept clear of litter and refuse, and
2. ensure public roads (for which it is responsible) are kept clean.

For each relevant land, NatureScot must -

• assess and allocate our land into Zones
• identify which duty response times apply and which response band
• introduce a monitoring regime to ensure that our zones are retaining the Grade A standard or, if areas have deteriorated, that restorative action is required, and
• make our findings easily accessible to members of the public.

Definitions

References here to land, zones, litter and refuse are as defined in the Code.  Appendix 2 contains a summary of zone and grade definitions for convenience.

Assessment of zonation of NatureScot Land

NatureScot Land comprises all lands that NatureScot owns, leases, or holds under a Nature Reserve Agreement (under section 16 of the National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act 1949) for which it has primary management responsibility. 

Appendix 1 shows, for each NatureScot Land, NatureScot's assessment against the criteria (footfall and litter sources) and conclusions on zonation and response times. Additional comments clarify the extent of NatureScot’s responsibility.  No NatureScot Land was deemed to be Zones 1, 2 or 3; (parts of) a few are Zone 4; most is Zone 5.

NatureScot is not responsible for any relevant public roads subject to Duty 2.

No NatureScot Land is a designated bathing beach.

As NatureScot is a body under the control of Scottish Ministers, the Code applies to NatureScot Land below the level of Mean High Water Spring tides. Appendix 1 indicates where this is relevant.  Where NatureScot manages land adjacent to the foreshore it endeavours to keep the foreshore clear of marine litter for the safety of wildlife and the enhanced enjoyment of people visiting our Land.

Care for the environment, including encouraging and facilitating the correct disposal of litter and refuse, is a priority reason for NatureScot’s landownership and management. NatureScot spend on litter and refuse is predominantly on preventive actions.  For example NatureScot has involved communities in the development of training materials for dog owners regarding dog faeces and promotes these nationwide, provides signs and waste bins on its nature reserves, promotes waste avoidance, provides recycling facilities on some lands, organises numerous community beach cleans to raise awareness of marine litter and related campaigns, and promotes responsible waste disposal.    NatureScot considers that >30% of its litter and refuse spend is on prevention and that Band 4 response times apply (as shown in Appendix 1).  

Special considerations and practicability

Due to the sensitive nature of much of NatureScot Land (eg breeding wildlife), its remoteness and the restricting effect of weather conditions, remedial action may not be possible within the appropriate response times. Some items of marine litter, on account of their size, nature and/or inaccessibility, may require special measures and may not be removable within the appropriate response time, if at all. 

Monitoring

Maintaining NatureScot Land as attractive, safe and litter –free is already a priority for NatureScot and popular public access areas are monitored regularly.  

Remote areas, with low footfall and no ‘high priority’ litter sources, as discussed in the Code, are inspected less frequently.  For these areas we provide contact details and encourage visitors to bring issues to our attention for appropriate action.

Monitoring is not a mandatory requirement of the Code but NatureScot will implement a system of recording compliance and actions to provide the evidence, as may be required, to respond to complainants.  NatureScot has an established customer complaints system through which visitors can register dissatisfaction with the standard of its Lands.

Review

NatureScot will review zonation in light of significant changes in an area’s use, and every two years.

Make findings easily accessible to members of the public 

To be published on NatureScot's website.

Contacting NatureScot

If you have a query concerning NatureScot’s implementation of the Code or about a NatureScot property, please contact us at Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness IV3 8NW,  Tel: 01463 725000 or use our Feedback form.  

If your query is a compliment or complaint, please visit the Customer care section of our website

You can find these and additional contact details on our website.

Appendix 1 - List of NatureScot Lands

NatureScot Lands	Average hourly footfall over 7 days	High risk potential litter sources	Zone	Response times (days) for litter & refuse grades E, D, C & B (see below)	Notes
Abernethy (Dell Wood)	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	-
Achanarras Quarry	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	-
Ariundle Oakwood	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Forestry & Land Scotland manage the car park.
Battleby	20-300	0	5	7-9-10-26	Conference centre car park & driveways
Beinn Eighe	20-300	0	5	7-9-10-26 (70)	Car park and visitor centre area and short trails.  (Special consideration for remote hill areas)
Ben Lui	<20	0	5	70	Special consideration - extremely remote
Ben Wyvis	<20	0	5	70	Special consideration - extremely remote. Forestry & Land Scotland manage the car park.
Blawhorn Moss	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	-
Braehead Moss	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	-
Caerlaverock	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Castle Corner and Hollands car parks and waymarked trails.
Cairnsmore of Fleet	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	-
Claish Moss	<20	0	5	70	Special consideration - extremely remote
Clyde Valley Woodlands (Cartland Crags & Cleghorn Glen)	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	-
Corrie Fee	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26 (70)	Forestry & Land Scotland manage the car park. (Special consideration for remote hill areas)
Cragbank Wood	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	-
Craigellachie	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	SYHA owns/manages the car park. Transport Scotland manages the trunk road verge.
Creag Meagaidh	20-300	0	4	5-6-7-16 (63)	Car park and information point area.  (Special consideration for remote hill areas.)
Flanders Moss	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Car park, access track, viewing tower and loop trail area
Forvie	20-300	0	4	5-6-7-16 (70)	Foreshore included – but seasonal special considerations apply. Inaccessible rocky coastline.
Glasdrum Wood	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Car park
Glen Nant	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Car park and waymarked trails managed by Forestry & Land Scotland
Glen Roy	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26 (70)	Viewpoint car park.  (Special consideration for remote hill land)
Glen Tanar	<20	0	5	70	Special consideration - small remote area
Great Glen House	20-300	0	4	5-6-7-16	Car park
Hermaness	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Car park and access track. Inaccessible rocky coastline.
Invereshie and Inshriach	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Car park managed by Forestry & Land Scotland
Isle of May	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Landing area, trails, visitor shelter. Inaccessible rocky coastline.
Jock's Gill Wood	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	-
Keen of Hamar	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Car park
Kirkconnell Flow	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Car park
Knockan Crag	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Car park and toilets area, Rock Room.
Loch Fleet	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	NatureScot manages Balblair and Littleferry car parks – but Highland Council empties the bins.  HC also manages Mound car park and lay-byes. Occasional fly-tipping.
Loch Leven	20-300	0	4	5-6-7-16	Shared management of Heritage Trail (except RSPB section) and Kinross car park. P&K Council provide bins and manage Burleigh & Kirkgate car parks. The lodges manage Findatie car park. Todd & Duncan manage their car park.
Loch Lomond	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Inchcailloch managed by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
Loch Maree Islands	<20	0	5	70	Special consideration - extremely remote
Moine Mhor	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Car park and tile trail
Muir of Dinnet	20-300	0	4	5-6-7-16	Car park area, waymarked trails, viewpoint. Occasional fly-tipping.
Noss	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Landing and visitor centre areas. Inaccessible rocky coastline.
Rannoch Moor	<20	0	5	70	Special consideration - extremely remote
Rhynie Chert	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	-
Rum	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Kinloch village outwith SNH Land. Inaccessible rocky coastline.
St Cyrus	20-300	0	4	5-6-7-16	Car park and kirkyard managed by Aberdeenshire Council.  Foreshore outwith NatureScot lands – but NatureScot organises beach cleaning.
Sunart	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	-
Taynish	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Car park, Piggery and waymarked trails
Tentsmuir	<20	0	5	7-9-10-26	Access points. Foreshore at Tentsmuir Point section included. Forest and Kinshaldy car park managed by Forestry & Land Scotland.

 

Appendix 2 - Extracts from the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse (COPLAR) - Definition of Zones

Zone	Description	Guidance – This should include areas where …
1	Areas subject to extremely high footfall and/or vehicular movement and/or very high number of potential litter sources.	the average hourly footfall/ vehicle movements is more than 1,000 over a 7 day period and/or 20 or more high risk potential litter sources.
2	Areas subject to high footfall and/ or vehicular movement and/or high number of potential litter sources.	the average hourly footfall/ vehicle movements is 601-1,000 over a 7 day period and/or 15-19 high risk potential litter sources.
3	Areas subject to moderate footfall and/ or vehicular movement and/or a moderate number of potential litter sources.	where the average hourly footfall/ vehicle movements is 301-600 over a 7 day period and/or 10-14 high risk potential litter sources.
4	Areas subject to low footfall and/ or vehicular movement and/or low number of potential litter sources.	the average hourly footfall/ vehicle movements is 20-300 over a 7 day period and/or 5-9 high risk potential litter sources.
5	Areas subject to very low/no footfall and/ or vehicular movement and/or few/no potential litter sources.	the average hourly footfall/ vehicle movements is less than 20 over a 7 day period and/or 0-4 high risk potential litter sources.

 

Band 4: basic response times by litter and refuse grade, based on >30% spend on prevention

Zone	Grade A	Grade B	Grade C	Grade D	Grade E	Grade F	Special consideration
1	Clear of litter and refuse	48 hours	12 hours	10 hours	8 hours	Earliest practicable opportunity	42 days
2	Clear of litter and refuse	4 days	18 hours	14 hours	12 hours	Earliest practicable opportunity	49 days
3	Clear of litter and refuse	5 days	60 hours	48 hours	24 hours	Earliest practicable opportunity	56 days
4	Clear of litter and refuse	16 days	7 days	6 days	5 days	Earliest practicable opportunity	63 days
5	Clear of litter and refuse	26 days	10 days	9 days	7 days	Earliest practicable opportunity	70 days
6	Clear of litter and refuse	70 days	49 days	42 days	35 days	Earliest practicable opportunity	No additional time

 

 Definition of litter and refuse grades

These are set as grades from A to F, with A reflecting that no litter or refuse is present (the standard) and F that potentially dangerous materials need to be removed as early as practicable.

These grades should be used when monitoring. The guideline number of items specified in the following photographs should be applied to areas of 100m².

Note that:

 • large items (larger than a credit card) include but are not limited to drinks containers, food packaging, carrier bags, newspapers, crisp packets/large sweet packets, cigarette packaging items, food waste (banana skin, sandwich etc.), and dog faeces

• small items include but are not limited to cigarette ends, receipts, tickets, individual sweet wrappers, and small food waste items (e.g. individual crisps)

• where a combination of both exists, six small items should be regarded as one large item e.g. 13 large items and 30 small items would become 18 large items making it a grade D

• flytipping is the illegal disposal of controlled waste – from a single bag of waste to large quantities of domestic, commercial or construction waste.

Grade	Description	Guide (per 100m2)
A	No litter or refuse is present on any type of land	-
B	Small amounts of litter and refuse	< 5 large items or <30 small items of litter and refuse
C	Moderate amounts of litter and refuse, with small accumulations	5-15 large items or 30-90 small items of litter or refuse
D	Significant amounts of litter and refuse, with consistent distribution and accumulations	16-30 large items or 91-180 small items of litter and refuse
E	Substantial amounts of litter and refuse with significant accumulations	> 30 large items or >180 small items of litter and refuse
F	Incidents of flytipping and hazardous/special waste (drug related waste, broken glass, animal carcasses, car parts, chemicals, and spillages)	-