Regional News

Say no to car litter!

15 March 2011

Today Keep Britain Tidy's Chief Executive, Phil Barton called on the Government and MPs to support proposed amendments to the Localism Bill to reduce the levels of littering from vehicles.

We believe that drivers who allow their passengers to drop litter are as guilty as those doing the dropping and want Local Authorities to have the ability to track and fine the drivers.  Almost 9,500 people have reported car litterers to Keep Britain Tidy since 2009 but currently we have no way of finding out who the culprits are and acting on it.  If you support our view that car drivers should be held responsible for any litter thrown from their car, let us know.

Tell us more about your thoughts on this matter using the comments box below or at Twitter or on Facebook or report a car litterer at http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/Campaigns/pastcampaigns/CarLitter/Default.aspx

Comments

Comment on this article

• Sarah Walmsley, North West

  As Environment Officer of Altrincham Traders & Residents Forum and organiser of Altrincham's Big Tidy Up, I whole-heartedly support the introduction of legislation which can enforce hefty fines on those who litter whilst in or around their vehicles. Tracing car owners through licence plates is often the only way in which to tackle people who litter, so YES. Absolutely. I hope to God the coalition gives local authorities the teeth with which to impose such fines.

• David Croft, Yorkshire & Humberside

  I have this evening witnessed a car, I have the reg number, and its occupants mindlessly dropping/leaving several Pizza Boxes on the road/kerbside at the end of my road this evening. I would love these people to be prosecuted. Also can we not insist that fast food Drive Thrus etc are required to put the Registration number and date on any packaging that is dispensed in this manner. If this is subsequent litter is found on roadside a portfolio/database could be built and prosecution made against the culprit(s).I hope this gets through to the right person, as littering is a huge issue and I am determined to have some say in the reduction on our roadsides and reduce the wanton abandonment of items and littering that I see daily whilst on the road. If the driver knows that his reg number is on the bottom of a bag/box I am sure he/she would have more than 2nd thoughts about dropping /throwing it. David Croft 07711 894354 davidcroft2@sky.com Please let me know what I should do with tis registration?

• Keep Britain Tidy, North West

  Chewing gum is the most difficult form of litter to deal with and is costly to remove. It was explicity defined as litter under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. If you chew gum you should put it in a bin or put it in a bit of paper/tissue until you find a bin. If you drop gum on the floor you can be fined up to £80. If the law is changed to allow the owner of a vehicle to be fined it would apply to chewing gum.