Gateway to Scotland is a roadside ‘dumping ground’

Volunteers from the various litter-picking groups along the A1 believe they face a three-pronged problem with discarded rubbish from vehicles, fly-tipping in lay-bys, and unsecured waste being blown from commercial lorries on their way to the nearby landfill sites and recycling depots.

Last year the Berwickshire Against Litter group – or the Auld Baggers – collected 5,000kgs of litter from roadside verges and lay-bys.

Alison Currie from the group said: “As well as picking up the litter, we are now going into schools to educate children on the problem of litter, and lobbying our politicians about the mess.

“What’s the point of anti-littering and fly-tipping legislation if there is no enforcement?

“We need public education campaigns, better enforcement and some joint up thinking to tackle the A1’s litter.

“At the moment it’s just a dumping ground.”