Mike Scotland, a 32-year-old health and safety officer from Bucksburn, Scotland, began picking up litter to address his depression and has since inspired community involvement in environmental cleanup. In his late 20s, Mike struggled with his mental health and found himself contemplating suicide by the River Don in Aberdeen. Overwhelmed by the surrounding litter, a known local dumping ground, he decided to take action.
Mike started by collecting litter himself1. He recounted, “One day, I took three black bags and went down to the riverside and just started picking up litter”. A passing cyclist offered to help, and together they spent hours cleaning up and talking openly. This experience led Mike to establish Community cleanup, a group dedicated to cleaning up Aberdeen and promoting conversations about mental health.
The first Community cleanup session involved four to six people and collected over 300 kg of litter. The following week, ten people participated and doubled the collection efforts. Impressively, the group has collected nearly 13,500 kg of litter and retrieved 2,500 kg of metal from the riverbed to date. A significant achievement was the return of otters swimming upstream in the River Don for the first time in 40 years, indicating the positive impact of their efforts.
Mike’s family, including his three children, now regularly participate in litter picking1. His five-year-old son, Lucio, even started picking up trash as a toddler. Litter picking has become an important family activity, encouraging time outdoors and connection with nature. Following storm Babet, Mike used Facebook to rally community support, and 350 people showed up to remove over 400 bags of debris.
Mike and his partner Nikki have created a network of over 100 local volunteers who are passionate about clean-ups. Nikki noted the positive impact on her children, reducing their screen time and instilling pride in their surroundings. Mike’s efforts have not only transformed the environment but have also inspired his community and given him hope for the future.