Workers spent 127 hours removing a staggering 363 bags of litter from an arterial route in Angus.
The amount of rubbish taken off the A92 from Dundee to Arbroath between January and April equates to approximately 1.1 tonnes and took an average of 7.5 hours per week to pick up.
Squads of litter pickers collected bottles, crisp packets, cans and more.
The tally of shame was revealed after Angus South SNP MSP Graeme Dey took up the issue with BEAR Scotland following a complaint from a constituent.
He said: “The amount of litter collected between January and April is, to me, quite staggering.
“This is a job which I can imagine will be quite dangerous for those having to undertake the task. Littering is an issue that really comes down to prevention.
“People should not be littering, whether they are walking round our towns or beautiful countryside, or travelling in a vehicle.
“I hope that the legislative changes the Scottish Government has confirmed it will introduce in relation to littering from vehicles will help to tackle this.”
Ministers are planning new laws to make it illegal to throw litter out of cars on Scotland’s roads.
BEAR Scotland is responsible for the operation and maintenance requirements on the A92 Dundee to Arbroath dual carriageway on behalf of Angus Council.
It is the operator’s responsibility to ensure litter does not reach an unacceptable standard, as stated in the contract.
The company said littering is an ongoing issue that requires regular work which, in turn, puts operatives at risk as they clean roadsides and verges.
BEAR Scotland confirmed it recently carried out its annual fence to fence grass cut, exposing litter that would otherwise have been hidden on regular inspections.
The route can go from looking relatively free of litter to exposing accumulations in the central reserve and wider verge areas instantaneously follow the grass cutting.
BEAR Scotland has also deployed resources to litter pick the central reserve completely, which requires traffic management and the firm will continue to roll out verge litter picking where necessary in the coming weeks.
Mr Dey also raised concerns with Network Rail and the organisation has also confirmed the railway line alongside the Elliot cycle path will be flagged for cleaning of litter.
Litter crusaders previously warned Angus is being turned into a “giant rubbish tip” by rogue dumpers.
Conservation volunteers say they fear rising levels of fly-tipping and littering across the county could have a negative impact on wildlife and visitors to the region.
