A new floating rubbish bin has been installed at a north-east harbour to help remove litter and prevent pollution.
The Seabin, which is afloat in Banff harbour, will collect any oil and plastic particles bigger than 2mm.
This device which works like a vacuum cleaner, sucking in rubbish on the water surface, is the first of its kind in Scotland.
It is secured to a platoon and will collect approximately 20kg of litter at a time, helping protect the environment and prevent contaminating fish.
Plans are now underway to install another bin at Macduff Harbour.
David Duguid, Scottish Conservative MP for Banff and Buchan, said: “I very much welcome the arrival of this Seabin machine in Banff Harbour.
“It is an ingenious device that will have a significant impact in terms of tackling pollution.
“The issue of plastic waste in particular has been brought to the forefront of political debate in this country following the excellent Blue Planet TV series and the work of my colleague in the UK Cabinet, the Environment Secretary Michael Gove.
“I look forward to hearing more about the impact that this Seabin will have in efforts to clean up the harbour at Banff.
“I would be fully supportive of any proposal to expand this project into Macduff, or indeed any other part of my Banff and Buchan constituency.”
Each bin costs around £3,000.
Councillor Michael Roy said: “It’s a very imaginative solution to a very difficult problem.
“The device is not big or complicated but it seems to work quite well – other than when it gets clogged with weed matter it does a fantastic job.
“Introducing a second one in Macduff harbour will be interesting to see as there is more rubbish there.
“It’s experimental – only the second of its kind in the UK after being designed by Australian surfers – so I’m excited to see the level of its success.”
Pete Ceglinski and Andrew Turton created the device in 2015 after being frustrated at the amount of rubbish found at sea.