Reaction: Glasgow City Council’s 6.5m Rat and Rubbish Fund

Glasgow City Council have announced £6.5m is to be spent on tackling the city’s ever growing rat problem with 200 new jobs dedicated to cleaning up the city.

150 of these new positions will be tasked with cleaning, whilst 50 will work in parks across the city to help tackle the litter and food waste lying around our ‘green’ spaces. Special teams are also set to be deployed to help sweep roads and shift some of the fly tipping that is a constant blot on the Glasgow landscape.

A positive move, and the kind of action that we at Pest Solutions have been lobbying hard for, but this MUST be the beginning of more widespread change and investment if any real change is to be achieved.

At Pest Solutions, we have been very vocal about the connection between irresponsible waste management and rat population in recent times, with our very own Gemma Sutherland and Iain Mackinnon appearing on BBC Scotland’s Reporting Scotland after Glasgow was named as having the largest rat population in the country.

We even launched our very our litter picking campaign called ‘Enough is Enough’, after our lobbying of councils and other public bodies was met with a stoney silence.

It is certainly nice to see the council acknowledging that there is such a disgusting litter problem in the city after their silence and inaction in the past but so much more needs to be done if we are to reverse the trends that have Glasgow on the edge of a true public health crisis.

A long, long, long way still to go

As a company that has been lobbying public bodies to invest in tackling the litter crisis currently affecting the whole of the UK, it would be wrong of us not to acknowledge this positive action by Glasgow City Council.

However, this really is barely a tiptoe in the right direction, and nowhere near enough to swing the tide of rubbish flowing down the streets of our towns and cities.

Anyone who has walked the streets of Glasgow in recent times can see that if 200 people alone are expected to clean up the city, then superhuman abilities had better be included in the job requirements.

Just last week, a local neighbourhood in Ibrox hit the headlines due to a row between residents and Glasgow City Council where bin collections had been halted since before Christmas, with piles of rubbish left lining the streets and attracting a variety of vermin to the area.

Videos of rats running around outside in broad daylight have also gone viral on numerous occasions including this one captured by Pest Solutions Graduate technician Chloe Smith just last month:

So, what is the answer?

If this investment is truly going to spark ‘real’ change in the battle with rodent activity, it must be the tip of a very large iceberg of action from councils, public bodies, and Government groups across the UK.

Without widespread public cooperation, we’re fighting a losing battle. A few hundred individuals, no matter how dedicated they may be, simply cannot overcome poor waste management practices across entire communities. Real progress requires:

• National public awareness campaigns highlighting the direct connection between litter and pest infestations
• Cultural transformation in waste disposal habits across all demographics
• Coordinated approaches between councils, businesses, and residents
• Educational initiatives in schools to establish proper waste habits early
• Consistent enforcement of anti-littering regulations

As our managing director and BPCA President Chris Cagienard notes, “By launching our litter awareness campaign, we want to encourage other businesses, local authorities and the next UK Government, to move this further up their agenda.”

The rising rat populations in Glasgow demonstrate that fragmented, reactive approaches fall short.

Only by creating a united front against littering can we effectively protect public health and reclaim our urban spaces from rodent infestations.

How can you help?

Glasgow is one big community, and our fantastic city is far too important to give up on the battle with rats and rubbish without a fight.

As we mention above, public cooperation is the single most important factor in tackling rodents and  our monthly litter picks across Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Newcastle provide perfect opportunities to make an immediate difference.

Sharing information about the campaign is equally valuable. Many people don’t realize the direct connection between carelessly discarded litter and our growing rodent problems. By spreading awareness through conversations and social media, you help build the critical mass of public understanding needed for lasting change.

Ready to make a difference? Contact Pest Solutions on 0800 027 2555 or visit our website to learn more about upcoming events and initiatives. Together, we can create cleaner, healthier communities and effectively address the pest problems threatening our urban environments.