Fast food chain McDonald's join forces with eco-warriors at climate change summit

Representatives from the local franchise which runs the Greenock and Port Glasgow outlets will join activists at a 'Take Pride in Inverclyde' event being held at the Beacon on Thursday.

MP Ronnie Cowan held talks with the fast food burger giant recently after raising concerns about the amount of litter being discarded following people's visits to the two drive thrus.

He has called for motorists' car registration numbers to be printed on takeaway cartons, in the hope that this will deter them from throwing items away.

Mr Cowan said: "I had an amicable and productive meeting with McDonald's management and the franchisee.

"McDonald's have been quick to engage and have agreed to attend the Take Pride in Inverclyde event at the Beacon on Thursday, which is being run by Inverclyde Literati in conjunction with Keep Scotland Beautiful.

"We have agreed to consider the possibility of printing car registration numbers on takeaway products and also the use of drones to identify the litter hotspots.

"In the meantime we need to concentrate on education and enforcement."

The Take Pride in Inverclyde event has been pulled together by campaigners to find local solutions to environmental problems.

It is being held in the run-up to the global COP26 conference in Glasgow.

Event organiser Stephen Henry said: "We are so pleased to have such a range of people and organisations taking part, with Keep Scotland Beautiful, our MP, MSP and the council as well.

"We are delighted to have schoolchildren and our groups all coming together and have dozens of litter picks coming up in the next few weeks."

MP Mr Cowan added: "It is very pleasing to see so many young people getting involved and hopefully we can an improvement in Inverclyde in the coming months."