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Original poster

We need a National Anti-Litter campaign

69 replies

LovingKent · 01/04/2021 10:18

The amount of litter everywhere at the moment is truly depressing and seems to have got so much worse over the past few years. Every beauty spot / park /street seems to have rubbish in it. Our local litter picking group is collecting bags of it every day. Every time the media reports large gatherings, there is a huge amount of litter left behind.

People do not seem to understand the huge environmental impact of their littering actions.

Councils do not have the money or resource to be constantly cleaning up.

We need a new national anti-litter campaign to raise awareness of the environmental effect of littering.

Please sign and share this petition. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/566467?fbclid=IwAR0tiz3Aqbmo2JtL_oK8fUwMBWENO-HcCckVzdnx5WlxFTh4EOBON59Mlv4

Please also write to your MP. I have. It is time the government took some action on this issue.

OP posts:
DGRossetti · 01/04/2021 12:09

It is proven (research) that the less litter there is, the fewer people feel OK to drop litter - so cleaning up brings positive behaviour.

A few years ago (in another age ...) DW and I were out for a drive and ended up in Daventry where we stopped for a coffee.

We both noted to each other that the main pedestrian precinct was too spotless. Like something out of a weird film set or something. Not a speck of litter anywhere. Even down the side roads. It was unnervingly pristine. Not sure what goes on there, but it stood out.

DioneTheDiabolist · 01/04/2021 12:13

This is being run across over the media here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=jA5hbum9uhQ

ABSOLUTELY RAGIN'Grin

DGRossetti · 01/04/2021 12:15

Everyone needs to stop blaming their loca council and put the blame where it belongs - Conservative government choices.

Much as I like to lambast the Tories, this is one area where it's personal responsibility all the way. And isn't that a Tory mantra anyway ?

Pick your fucking litter up.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

News
savvy7 · 01/04/2021 12:15

I don't agree with community service litter picking, otherwise everyone who sees me with my litter pick will think I'm some scrote.

I do agree with more strategically placed bins and coming down hard on fines for litterers and a litter tax on companies who produce a lot of what ends up on the streets and lobbed out of car windows (I'm looking at you McDonalds)

beginningoftheend · 01/04/2021 12:22

@DGRossetti

Everyone needs to stop blaming their loca council and put the blame where it belongs - Conservative government choices.

Much as I like to lambast the Tories, this is one area where it's personal responsibility all the way. And isn't that a Tory mantra anyway ?

Pick your fucking litter up.

Did you read what I wrote earlier - some litter is dropped but an awful lot is blown from places where it has been put legitimately.

Dog shit is a whole different issue - that is deposited.

But on my street the litter arrives on recycling day as it blows from the boxes, and in the tipping process.

On other days we get almost no litter.

Sometimes no one is to blame but things still need clearing up.

roguetomato · 01/04/2021 12:30

I am a foreigner and I was quite surprised with people's attitude towards littering when I came here.
I live near the primary school, and amount of rubbish on the pavement is so depressing. After the school fair and sports days, the school ground is littered with drink bottles and snack packets. The children are just throwing them on the ground and parents don't even seems to care. While us volunteers picking up the rubbish after the event, some even throw things on the ground while walking out.

Since we are children, we were drilled not to litter. And if you do, you get fined. It's embarrassing to do too.
I think the first point of educating should come from parents, that it's not someone else's job to clean after them.

MrsEWeatherwax · 01/04/2021 12:31

There also needs to be more bins, and the council to empty them regularly. My local supermarket they have removed all the bins from the car park.
My council tax is in the top ten of the country.
We have a rubbish blue lidded recycling bin that flies open in the slightest wind, we keep a brick on ours, but have to remove on bin day. The recycling rubbish on bin day is ridiculous. The rubbish bin cost the council a couple of quid less.
So who is to blame there?

DioneTheDiabolist · 01/04/2021 12:41

I live just off a main road and get loads of it blown in. To my garden.Angry The only good thing is it does eventually get disposed of properly.

WallaceinAnderland · 01/04/2021 12:54

I don't agree with community service litter picking, otherwise everyone who sees me with my litter pick will think I'm some scrote.

They should have to wear bright orange overalls with 'litter shitter' written on and you get to wear the green ones with a 'save the planet' cape so people can you're a superhero and they're the villains.

IrmaFayLear · 01/04/2021 12:57

“It doesn’t bother me too much” . Shock

Broken bottles in parks/beaches, old takeaway food, nappies, condoms, etc etc ?

MondayYogurt · 01/04/2021 12:59

Plastic tax on manufacturers?

DGRossetti · 01/04/2021 13:00

Did you read what I wrote earlier - some litter is dropped but an awful lot is blown from places where it has been put legitimately.

I did - and that is a local authority issue.

But it's also a different issue to people who just chuck their litter willy nilly.

WhoWants2Know · 01/04/2021 13:03

There's another litter thread running today that mentions the amount of rubbish thrown from cars. I think it's worth heavily fining people who do that or adding points to the driver's license.

Needsomethingtoread · 01/04/2021 13:05

There is so much litter near me at the minute. We’re going to go out at half
Term and clear it. It does upset me

DioneTheDiabolist · 01/04/2021 13:05

He doesn't like people throwing things from cars: m.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ezUvevjr4

reprehensibleme · 01/04/2021 13:08

Problem is, public service messages on litter, dog crap, speeding etc have absolutely no effect on the pond scum who do it. Large fines and community service doing litter picking would probably have more impact.

reprehensibleme · 01/04/2021 13:11

WhoWants2Know, we once followed a fancy 4wd all the way through Kielder National Park and every couple of miles a an or crisp packet would come flying out the window. Never have I wished more for police I. D. Or a Sherman tank.

MondayYogurt · 01/04/2021 13:18

@reprehensibleme

WhoWants2Know, we once followed a fancy 4wd all the way through Kielder National Park and every couple of miles a an or crisp packet would come flying out the window. Never have I wished more for police I. D. Or a Sherman tank.
Littercam!

www.thesun.co.uk/news/14189842/motorists-litter-fines-cigarette-butts-apple-cores-kent-maidstone/

beginningoftheend · 01/04/2021 13:44

Enforcement does work - but is expensive and budgets have been cut.

shadypines · 01/04/2021 14:07

@LovingKent I think litter attracts more litter if you see what I mean. Definately agree with this; as a species we easily copy what other people do unfortunately, whether it's a good idea or not. I saw a news item several years ago where someone had taken a picture of a bottle left on pavement infront of the railings around Buckingham palace. Within hours other people had decided to leave their bottles next to this one so soon there was a huge pile of bottles. Notice, they were all left together in one pile, for some reason people did not dump their bottles at a distance from the others as you think they might do if they are littering, what does it matter? No, they walked over to this pile to add to it and I'd hazard a guess it wasn't much further to walk to a bin.

I've actually someone walk further to drop something on the floor (at a bus station) than walk to the bin that was nearby, one of those moments where you rub your eyes in disbelief.

Applause for starting your OP.

shadypines · 01/04/2021 14:09

^ actually seen someone , that should read, doh

cyclingmad · 01/04/2021 14:17

Specifically about litter in parks where it is always blown about..

Its people who cannot be arsed to take their rubbish with them to deposit in a bin, and if the bin is full put it right next to it or just take it home and find one that's emptier on the way.

It should be the individuals responsibility not on local councils and number of bins etc.

Honestly someone who thinks differently, tell me why is it so hard to take your rubbish with you?

If you have a dinner party in your garden and the guest just dropped litter in your garden everywhere, how would you feel?

Or if your a family and eating in your garden do you dropping your litter and food on it and leave it?

Bet you wouldn't! So why is it acceptable in parks.

megletthesecond · 01/04/2021 14:25

Apologies I've not read the whole thread but the face book group 'UK Litterpicking Groups' is a good place to start. There's loads of us on there. I'm just a lone picker as I don't have time to start a neighbourhood group.

Some councils support volunteers with equipment, others don't. Ours doesn't but they've got really good at clearing any fly tipping I report and getting back to me.

Once an area is really clean people treat it better.

sashagabadon · 01/04/2021 15:47

Design of bins also matters. Open bins get raided by squirrels, birds like magpies and crows and foxes. They spread the litter about plus wind too. Bins with a top and a swing style opening help reduce this.
Roads are particularly depressing sight. If anyone ever drives on the a40 out of London they’ll know exactly what I mean

MondayYogurt · 01/04/2021 15:55

For securing bin lids: www.binstrap.com