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90% of the UK Faces Litter Problem, Report Warns

Litter Pollution in England Reaches Critical Levels

A recent study by the environmental organisation Keep Britain Tidy has revealed a concerning scale of litter pollution across England. The report, which compiles over ten years of research covering 1,140 miles, found that over 90% of surveyed areas contained litter.

Public perception aligns with these findings – 77% of respondents believe that the litter problem has worsened in recent years, highlighting the growing frustration over the state of the environment.

Disadvantaged Areas Suffer the Most

The study also exposes a stark social divide in litter distribution, with lower-income communities being disproportionately affected. Researchers found that the most deprived areas had nearly three times as much litter as wealthier neighbourhoods.

In addition, litter-free spaces were seven times less likely to be found in deprived communities, reinforcing the link between economic disparity and environmental quality.

The Impact of Litter on Safety and Economy

The consequences of widespread littering extend beyond environmental concerns, significantly affecting public safety, mental well-being, and local economies:

  • 66% of respondents said they would feel unsafe walking through a littered area at night.
  • 86% admitted they would be embarrassed to live in a place with heavy littering.
  • 78% believed litter could discourage business investment.
  • 87% stated they would avoid renting or buying property in a heavily littered area.

What’s Driving the Litter Crisis?

The study identifies key factors contributing to the UK’s litter problem:

  • 62% of people cited a decline in community pride as a major cause of rising litter levels.
  • 52% believed littering has become a social norm, with many treating it as acceptable behaviour.

Most Common Types of Litter

The report also highlights the most frequently discarded items:

  • 52% of surveyed locations contained sweet and chocolate wrappers.
  • 31% had drink cans and bottles.
  • 22% featured fast food packaging.
  • 16% contained crisp and snack packets.

Efforts to Tackle the Litter Problem

Adam Hug, the environment spokesperson for the Local Government Association, outlined how councils are addressing the issue.

Local authorities are responsible for keeping streets, parks, and public spaces clean, running awareness campaigns and issuing Fixed Penalty Notices to those caught littering.

However, Hug emphasised that solving the problem requires more than just clean-up efforts:

“To effectively combat littering, we need to reduce overall waste production. With councils under financial strain, packaging producers must take on greater responsibility for the costs of waste disposal and improve efforts to cut down and recycle packaging materials.”

As the issue of littering continues to grow, environmental groups and local councils stress the need for stronger regulations, community engagement, and corporate responsibility to make a lasting change.

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