Published Date: Aug 1st, 2024
The partnership between Fife Council and the LitterLotto competition has its first Fife winner.
Sarah Mansell, from North East Fife, has won the June edition of the litter picking competition. Since starting to use the LitterLotto app in March 2024, Sarah has bagged an incredible 1,014 pieces of litter from across Fife, with the help of canine companion, Max, the Border Collie.
The LitterLotto is a free-to-enter competition that encourages people to collect as much litter as possible and ‘bin it to win it’. Each time a piece of litter is submitted, it counts towards a person’s entries to win jackpots and prizes. Participants submitting entries must take a picture of litter being placed in the bin in order for a submission to be valid.
The LitterLotto offers a range of prizes including weekly draws of up to £1,000, and monthly prize draws which often include bigger prizes. Fife Council has partnered with LitterLotto and Keep Scotland Beautiful to encourage Fifers to take part in the competition to win great prizes, while also look after Fife’s incredible landscape.
Hearing the news of her LitterLotto win, Sarah Mansell said:
“The LitterLotto app was first recommended to me by the fantastic Paws on Plastic group, which was set up by a passionate litter picker and dog walker from Stonehaven. The group encourages dog walkers to pick up a few items of litter whenever they are out.
“I walk my dog, Max the Border Collie, most days on the North East Fife beaches, in local woodlands or on the coastal path and I always carry a bag for litter. My partner and I moved to Fife in 2021 and we feel so lucky to live in such a beautiful area and we want to keep it that way.”
Councillor Jan Wincott, Fife Council Spokesperson for Climate Change and Environment, said:
"I'd like to congratulate Sarah on winning the June edition of the LitterLotto competition. It's great to see more and more Fifers taking part in the competition, and creating a cleaner and greener Fife.
"Litter is extremely damaging to our environment, and we must all play our part in protecting the beautiful landscape that we have in Fife."
Speaking about what inspired her to take part in the LitterLotto, Sarah added:
“After the winter storms, it was upsetting to see how much rubbish had been washed up on the beaches, so I wanted to do my bit and stop it going back into the sea. I've joined one litter pick organised by the Friends of Largo Bay as well as one organised by West Sands Rangers.
"I'm also part of a Facebook group that reports bags of litter collected to the Fife Street Champions, who run a monthly tally. These are all amazing, supportive communities of people. Picking up litter on the beaches now extends to everywhere we go.”
When asked if she would recommend the LitterLotto app to others, Sarah said:
“I would encourage people to use the LitterLotto app. It's good fun and a conversation starter when you're taking pictures of rubbish going into bins.
"You can enter draws for vouchers and other prizes or use your points to get extra entries into the monthly £1,000 national draw. The Fife draw for residents and visitors is an excellent idea and winning was a very nice surprise. Max will be getting extra treats for his help.”
As a top tip for other litter pickers using the LitterLotto app, Sarah said:
“I would recommend using the ‘Save For Later’ feature which submits all your pictures at once rather than waiting for mobile data if you have a poor connection.”
To be in with a chance of winning great prizes, join the LitterLotto by visiting: LitterLotto