CLEANER, GREENER, POTHOLE-FREE SCOTLAND CAMPAIGN by Josephine MacLeod is about Nature & Communities First.

Scotland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, yet too many communities are affected by litter, fly-tipping, potholes, poor road maintenance, and environmental neglect.

My team & I,  are launching a continuation of the  public campaign “Greener, Cleaner, Scotland, Nature First” with this “Nature & Communities First“ campaign:

“Cleaner, Greener, Pothole-Free Scotland”

This campaign is about improving our communities, protecting our environment, improving our health & wellbeing, avoiding vehicle accidents & repairs caused by litter & potholes, supporting local councils, and creating a culture of responsibility, maintenance, and pride in Scotland. This will eventually save Scotland money & create more money in everyone's pocket!

What We Are Calling For?

We are calling for:

✅ Education, Respect and Environmental Responsibility

While stronger enforcement against littering and fly-tipping is important, lasting change begins with education and personal responsibility. Scotland’s environmental challenges cannot be solved by penalties alone. We need a national campaign that promotes respect for nature, public spaces, and the communities in which we live and work. From schools and youth groups to workplaces and community organisations, we should encourage people to take pride in their surroundings and understand that littering damages not only the environment but also the wellbeing and reputation of our communities.

✅ Deposit Return Rewards Scheme

Countries such as Norway, Germany, Sweden and Finland have demonstrated that rewarding recycling works.

We are calling for a modern Scottish Deposit Return Rewards Scheme where people receive:

• Cash rewards
• Shopping vouchers
• Charity donation options
• Lottery ticket incentives

for returning bottles and cans to shops or vending machines.

Norway’s recycling system achieves return rates above 90% through deposit incentives and widespread collection points. Germany’s Pfand system is widely regarded as one of the most successful recycling programmes in Europe success rate reputed about 96 - 98%.

• Scotland should learn from these successful models.

✅ Make Scotland Pothole-Free

Potholes cost motorists millions of pounds every year, damage vehicles, cause accidents that create safety risks, and frustrate communities.

• A dedicated Pothole Prevention Unit within Transport Scotland
• Long-term road maintenance funding for local authorities
• Higher quality repairs and resurfacing standards
• Penalties for contractors whose work contributes to road deterioration
• A road repair guarantee system
• Public reporting and transparency on road maintenance performance

✅ Tougher Action Against Fly-Tipping

We want:

• Increased fines
• Better enforcement
• Use of technology and CCTV
• Faster investigation and prosecution
• Stronger collaboration between councils, SEPA and Police Scotland

✅ More Public Bins & Community Clean-Up Support

Cleaner communities require proper infrastructure.

We are calling for:

• More public refuse bins & campaigns on the benefits of a clean environment & the harmful effects of litter.
• Increased funding for community clean-up groups
• School and youth environmental projects & campaigns 
• Greater local authority support for volunteers

✅ Corporate Responsibility for Waste

Businesses should help address the waste they create.

We support:

• Producer responsibility schemes
• Mandatory take-back systems
• Environmental levies dedicated to local environmental improvement
• Funding directly allocated to councils for environmental maintenance.

✅ Cleaner Roadsides and Public Spaces

Transport Scotland should introduce:

• Roadside litter monitoring
• Greater enforcement
• Partnership working with SEPA and local authorities
• Rapid response clean-up teams

✅ To Reinstate Public Toilets for the sake of Public Health

A cleaner Scotland also requires adequate public toilet provision. Over recent years, many public conveniences have been closed, leaving residents, visitors, older people, families with young children, people with disabilities, delivery drivers, and outdoor workers struggling to access basic facilities. The lack of public toilets can contribute to unsanitary conditions, environmental pollution, and public health concerns such as epidemics.

Scotland needs a coordinated strategy to protect existing facilities, reinstate and invest in new, safe, accessible, and well-maintained public toilets in town centres, parks, transport hubs, tourist destinations, and community spaces etc. Access to clean public toilets is a basic public service that supports dignity, public health, tourism, and community wellbeing.

Why This Matters

Cleaner communities improve:

✔ Public health
✔ Tourism
✔ Community pride
✔ Road safety
✔ Environmental protection
✔ Local economies
✔ Quality of life

Over the past few years, I have proudly supported and championed environmental initiatives through Conservative Friends of Africa Scotland, including the successful Greener, Cleaner Scotland - Nature First campaign with over 600 signatures, which called for stronger action on litter, fly-tipping, waste management, and environmental protection.

A Cross-Party Campaign

This campaign is not about party politics.

It is about creating a cleaner, greener, safer Scotland for future generations.

I will be inviting MSPs from all parties, local councillors, community organisations, businesses, schools, environmental groups, and residents to support this initiative.

Get Involved

Together we can build a Scotland that is:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Cleaner
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Greener
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Safer
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Better Maintained
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Pothole-Free

To support this campaign, contact:

josephinemacleodcampaign@gmail.com

Nature First. Communities First.

Josephine MacLeod 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿