Applications are being invited for a new £75,000 fund, launched today by Zero Waste Scotland, to help transform local areas blighted by illegal flytipping.
Grants of between £500 and £10,000 will be available to community groups, landowners and land managers in the South Ayrshire area, who are consistently battling the problem of unlawfully dumped waste, such as furniture, TVs, white goods and garden and commercial waste.
Last year, over 50 applications were received, with the successful projects awarded grants to clear over 127 tonnes of waste from 21 problem sites across Scotland. As well as funding the clean-up, a range of measures were put in place, including fencing, barriers and site signage to help prevent future flytipping and protect the environment.
The scheme is administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful on behalf of Zero Waste Scotland, with support from the Scottish Flytipping Forum, and the deadline for applications is 31 August 2012.
South Ayrshire Councillor John McDowall, Sustainability and Environment Portfolio Holder said: "I would encourage community groups, landowners and other people who are keen to ensure that our environment is not blighted by illegal flytipping to apply for funding.
"We must do everything we can to prevent irresponsible people dumping items illegally on land which then has to be cleaned up by other people. The funding will help to clear up the mess and take measures to prevent it in the future."
Catherine Wilson, Litter and Flytipping Manager for Zero Waste Scotland said: "We had a huge response from the public following the launch of the fund last year, highlighting just how important it is to continue efforts to address flytipping.
"These grants will help to support those communities and landowners who are willing to take positive action to clean up dumping grounds and take measures to prevent it happening again.
"As we've seen from last year's projects, this money can make a real difference to sites which have been blighted by persistent flytipping, and we look forward to welcoming applications from communities across Scotland."
Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful said: "As Scotland's charity for the environment Keep Scotland Beautiful is pleased to support Zero Waste Scotland with this work to tackle the very real damage done to communities by the indiscriminate flytipping of waste. We encourage communities across Scotland to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the fund to improve their local environment."
Applications to the fund can be made at http://www.dumbdumpers.org/smallgrantscheme.