The Great British Litter Survey: Tackling the UK’s growing litter crisis

For local authorities, the clean-up operation is a mammoth undertaking, with littering costing councils in England more than £800 million in 2023; money that could otherwise have been spent on improving the public services and facilities that we all rely on to live better, more convenient lives. Make no mistake: the scourge of rubbish on Britain’s streets is a nationwide crisis, and with the vast majority of offenders going completely unpunished, is a problem that shows no signs of abating, posing a significant risk to wildlife and local communities

Survey highlights grave concerns

This is why leading Clean Up Britain, a leading anti-litter and fly-tipping organisation, recently carried out a survey of over 1,200 people across the UK, in partnership with nationwide retailer Pets Corner, to understand how littering blights the lives of people and animals. The findings of the survey highlight the urgent concerns that people have about litter. For example, an overwhelming 88% of respondents expressed their pressing concern about the detrimental impact that littering has on pets and wildlife. Not only does this figure highlight the deep connection that Brits have towards animals, but also the strong public awareness and recognition that the potential threats that litter poses to their health and safety.

The survey also found that 85% of people have noticed a rise in litter within their local area, suggesting the extent to which public cleanliness has declined in recent years, and that the risk of animals ingesting waste may have increased significantly. More shockingly, it revealed numerous reports of pets being harmed by litter, leading to vet visits and, in some cases, severe health issues. The most common incidents involved pets ingesting plastic or being cut by sharp objects, displaying the ease with which animals can be harmed by refuse.

Despite the survey suggesting a strong level of public understanding about the dangers of litter to wildlife and pets, respondents emphasised the urgent need to raise awareness about the harmful effects that littering has on animals. For example, many felt that educational initiatives – particularly those targeted at younger generations – would play a pivotal role in creating long-term behavioural change, and reduce the amount of litter on our streets over time.

Laying waste to Britain’s littering culture

While the extent of the UK’s litter crisis is clear for us all to see – and seemingly worsening all the time – it is clear how many people across the country care about tackling the problem, and are aware of the threats that litter poses to animals. This is, of course, hugely encouraging, but it’s evident that much more must be done if we are to turn the tide on the crisis.

From stricter penalties and increased community engagement, greater efforts to tackle Britain’s littering culture, and punish those who contribute to it, are vital to bringing about meaningful change, and making our communities cleaner and safer places for people and animals to live together in.