Why are Brits so prone to littering ?

[Salida]

I'm not asking for your litter horror stories - we all have them. I'm asking for your thoughts on something that perplexes me. Just why is it that Britons are so prone to littering (and the oldies on here will confirm, that we have become much more so) - why we seem to litter so much more than countries?

'other countries'.

I think we have become a very selfish and entitled nation. People do not give a shit about the consequences for their actions as its only them doing it. Forgetting that thousands of others are as selfish as them and they are also doing it.

I think it's because people just know someone, whether public or council, will deal with it. We went to America 6 years ago and stayed with a friend on a Wednesdays they had a pick up 5 pieces of litter each policy. No idea how it is monitored but everywhere was really clean. This was Texas, I don't know if it's different in each state. Xxx

We're so far removed from the environment and generally have no idea what resources go into making paper, plastics, cardboard, fabrics, metals etc. People also don't care - it's someone else's job to pick up after them.

They're lazy.

I've seen litter fall out of my neighbours bins and they just ignore it.

I go around the street litter picking it all for the lazy shits. Maybe one day it'll shame them into doing it themselves.

I don’t think we are as a nation are we?

I remember reading somewhere (the economist maybe) that it’s a psychological problem that arises from the disenfranchisement of the lower classes. Class mobility in Britain is terrible, I can understand why someone who isn’t middle middle and up would loose all hope. I wouldn’t be surprised it the majority of those earning less than the average are low key depressed and end up doing antisocial things like littering as a result. I’m not saying it’s ok but when people are downtrodden they tend to stop caring.

I take my litter picker and a bin bag every morning on my dog walk and every morning it is full before I'm halfway round - mostly bottles and cans, those little gas canisters and pizza boxes. It's so much worse in this warm weather as hoards of teenagers have been hanging around in large groups a lot more

if you drive along a uk motorway or a motorway in another eu country you see a lot less littering.

I don't get it either...

My family was surprised at tge amount of rubbish around. It's a shame. There are beautiful and interesting places around, but the rubbish is something people will remember. Like when we went for a walk to the beach in the evening...

I've been to plenty of countries where it isn't the Brits littering. Daft generalisation.

You get thoughtless people everywhere. Doesn't take many to make a mess.

Because “what do I pay my council tax for” Or “keeps someone in a job dunt it” just a couple of things I’ve heard.

I think the lack of public information films has something to do with it. I grew up in the 80s and some of them were horrific. The glass bottle being knocked off the wall one was horrific and seemed to be on all the time!
I really don't understand the laughing gas thing, let alone leaving clusters of the canisters, usually in a car park. Why?!

I don’t think we are? I’ve been shocked when travelling abroad at how filthy some
beauty spots are. I’m thinking of places in Africa Asia and South America. But I’ve also been astounded by the cleanliness of some
Places. So I guess we are about average?

And I love the idea of how everyone lower than ‘middle middle’ must be wallowing in a pit of misery whilst throwing their coffee cups out of Car windows!

If you go to Spain you’ll be amazed at the amount of dog faeces on the pavement.

We don’t fund local services well enough to make it clean enough to keep it clean. People tend not to drop the first bit of litter. They’re much less inhibited about the 25th

I think people are surprised because it's Britain? First world country etc. Is that possibility?

Because they are lazy entitled twats who think its beneath them and someone else will do it plus there are no consequences, how many people ever get charged and fined.

Lack of bins.

It's the way they're dragged up.

no idea.
I was taught to take it home.surely thats why we have pockets.

People are less likely to litter where there are food plants growing. So if we had nice green surroundings, it might not happen so much. And then once there's already litter, people don't see a reason to avoid doing it themselves, so it's self-perpetuating.

Our cities are highly depressing and unhealthy places, especially in poorer areas with significant air and noise pollution, so stopping driving might help too (certainly with other things, and potentially with litter too).

And companies should take responsibility for their packaging too.

I don't think we're any worse than a lot of other European countries. I've seen a lot of litter in Spain, Holland etc.

I think that the rise of fast food, with the associated wrappings, cartons and “disposable” plastic cutlery has a part to play, along with lack of social responsibility.
There used to be public information films on TV which emphasised things like disposing of litter properly, following the country code, the Highway Code and safety advice.
There was some social disapproval about littering, which seems to have disappeared now. Look at the aftermath of Glastonbury, any beauty spot and beaches.
And I agree that people don't seem to have much knowledge of the environment, or give a stuff if they do.
I can't think of any solution, either. Litter police? Cameras? Better biodegradables?

I come from a different country and I feel one of the problems is the lack of bins! I understand why there aren't many but it creates a culture of just throwing rubbish on the floor. Who would carry their rubbish for more than 20min? (I have! Looking for a bin)