Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has published a groundbreaking report highlighting the severe litter crisis in England and its disproportionate impact on the country's most deprived communities.
This report, based on a decade of extensive research and public opinion data, reveals growing concerns about the detrimental effects of litter on public health, the environment, and the economy.
Key Findings:
- Widespread Litter: Over the past decade, more than 90% of the 1,140 miles of urban and rural sites surveyed by Keep Britain Tidy contained litter. The latest survey found only nine out of every 100 locations in England to be litter-free.
- High Litter Anxiety: A significant 77% of people believe the litter problem has worsened in recent years, with 70% noticing litter in their local area daily.
- Disproportionate Impact on Deprived Communities: The most deprived areas had nearly three times as much litter compared to the least deprived areas. Litter-free spaces were seven times less likely to be found in these communities.
The report also highlights the negative impact of litter on mental health, safety, and economic prosperity. When shown an image of a heavily littered street, 66% of survey respondents said they wouldn't feel safe walking there at night, 86% felt embarrassed to live there, and 67% believed living in such an area would negatively affect their mental health. Additionally, 87% said they would be discouraged from buying or renting in a littered area, and 78% believed high levels of litter would deter business investment.
There is overwhelming public support for measures to prevent littering, including anti-littering campaigns. A lack of pride in maintaining local community spaces was seen as a contributing factor to the increasing litter problem by 62% of people, while 52% believe littering has become normalized behaviour.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Our report is a wake-up call. It shows that litter is more than an eyesore – it prevents investment, creates inequality, damages the environment and makes people feel depressed and unsafe. It’s unacceptable that the most deprived communities are bearing the brunt of the country’s litter problem. We believe that everyone, wherever they live, should be able to take pride in their environment - but we cannot achieve this alone.”
“If we are to make significant strides towards creating litter-free spaces for everyone, we need to set a new course and take coordinated action. Our research shows strong support for preventative measures to tackle this issue, demonstrating the public desire to ‘turn off the tap’ of litter, rather than ‘mop up the problem’.
“However, this requires a plan and cooperation at every level. We need a national strategy with robust targets and monitoring, clear focus and adequate resourcing. We’re calling on the government, industry and individuals to work together with us to create a future where litter-free spaces are the norm, rather than the exception.”
With on-the-go consumption firmly embedded in 21st century society, discarded packaging from drinks, snacks and fast food were second only to smoking-related litter in prevalence in the latest survey data. Sweets and chocolate wrappers were found in more than half (52%) of surveyed sites, followed by drinks bottles and cans, which were present in almost a third of all locations (31%). Fast food-related litter was present in 22% of areas, and crisps and snack packets in 16%.
However, when it comes to public perceptions, drinks-related litter is cited by more than nine in ten survey respondents (92%) as the most problematic type of litter. The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is welcomed by Keep Britain Tidy to specifically address this issue, which has been shown to disproportionally impact the most disadvantaged in society. Drinks-related litter was found to be almost three times as prevalent in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived locations.
Allison added: “Keep Britain Tidy supports the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) as a significant step towards tackling drinks-related litter, which is especially problematic in the most deprived communities. With government estimates suggesting the DRS could cut littered drinks containers by 85%, this initiative has the potential to deliver profound benefits where they are most needed.”
Responding to a Keep Britain Tidy report, Cllr Adam Hug, environment spokesperson for the LGA said: “Councils work hard to keep parks, streets and public spaces clean and free from unacceptable littering.
“Responsibility for clearing up litter lies with the person dropping it or leaving it behind. Councils run a range of awareness and clean-up campaigns, and Fixed Penalty Notices can be issued in cases where a person littering has been caught in the act.
“In order to reduce litter we must reduce overall waste. At a time when councils are facing significant financial pressures packaging producers must take responsibility for meeting costs of disposing of this litter and in helping further reduce and recycle packaging waste.”
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