Irvine lifeguard Rachel Little is £100 better off after binning litter in North Ayrshire using the LitterLotto app.

Rachel – a self-confessed ‘Womble’ – is a devoted user of the free LitterLotto app, which offers rewards to encourage people to bin litter responsibly.

North Ayrshire Council’s LitterLotto partnership, facilitated by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, offers users the chance to Bin it to win it! by winning a monthly prize and weekly jackpots.

A monthly cash prize of £100 is up for grabs in North Ayrshire, and every time users responsibly bin a piece of litter, they get another entry into the LitterLotto UK-wide weekly jackpot of £1,000.

Throughout December, 22,170 items of litter were binned responsibly by app users in North Ayrshire – up from 19,610 items in November.

The 2,560 increase has been welcomed by Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy.

The app was launched on April 1 as a 12-month pilot scheme and the number of items being binned has grown steadily since.

It is simple to use, free to enter and all you need to do is:

• Download the app
• Be litter alert and take a photograph on your device or smart phone as you place your litter into a Council street litter bin and
• Wait to discover if you are the monthly prize draw winner – selected randomly - in North Ayrshire.

All litter counts, from a single disposable coffee cup to a takeaway meal box, and you can enter as often as you like as long as you are putting a different piece of litter into a North Ayrshire street litter bin.

Swimming teacher and lifeguard Rachel, who volunteers with Irvine Clean Up Crew voluntary group, said: “Some of my friends are part of LitterLotto and suggested I join too. We are dog owners and frequently litter pick as we walk. We live in such a beautiful area.

“My dog Tilly has a heart condition, which our pet insurance doesn't cover. The £100 will be a great help towards her next scan. She has to be sedated for it because she doesn't stop barking! She may be getting on but she's still feisty!”

Rachel regularly picks up litter while walking her dogs and joins group litter picks with Irvine Clean Up Crew.

She recommends the app, explaining: “LitterLotto is a motivational app to be part of. It's nice to know that you are part of a bigger team of people who care about our environment and the litter problem.

“It's lovely to be rewarded for the effort, especially when the task seems never ending. If you use LitterLotto then you know you are not alone and that you really can make a positive difference.

“All of Irvine Clean Up Crew have been recycling with the Council’s Streetscene team. Individuals in our group have refurbished bikes that have been pulled out of the river, and repaired toys and teddies that have been chucked in the bushes.

“We have an unofficial bingo card of frequent and most unusual finds. We're not just litter pickers, we are proper Wombles – like the characters in the beloved TV show who were known for their environmentally-friendly stories and messages.”

The council has been promoting the app on the side of bin lorries and on public street bins, so you will see it being advertised across North Ayrshire.

Heather McLaughlin, Campaigns and Social Innovation Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, added: “I’m delighted to see that Rachel has been rewarded for doing the right thing through our partnership with LitterLotto and North Ayrshire Council.

“This collaboration is all about encouraging people to help tackle the country’s litter emergency and it’s brilliant to see people across the country continuing their efforts to keep Scotland beautiful.”

David Landsberg, founder and CEO of LitterLotto, said: “We’re proud to be in partnership with such a passionate and committed local authority like North Ayrshire Council. Together, we are continuing to change behaviour, educate and reward. Please continue to bin your litter through the app.”

Published: 05 February 2025