InYourArea

Don't Trash Our Future

Join our campaign to clean up the country for good

InYourArea

By InYourArea

Litter has been an unwelcome feature of the coronavirus pandemic. Beaches littered, bins overflowing and parks left strewn with bottles and wrappers. InYourArea has joined forces with Clean Up Britain to say enough is enough to launch our Don’t Trash Our Future campaign.

Do sign our petition!

Tackle littering locally by organising a clean up

Object to local councils not enforcing litter fines

Fight for a higher fine for those dropping litter

Sign our petition calling for the maximum fixed penalty notice for dropping litter in the UK to be raised to £1,000

If the petition doesn't display below, please click here instead.

Councils need to play their part

Research conducted by Clean Up Britain - which campaigns for behavioural change around littering habits - found the vast majority of local authorities in the UK are not using their enforcement powers enough.

Of 169 Councils in England and Wales, 27 (16%) do not issue any fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to 'manage' litter
 *   Of the 169 Councils that responded, 96 (56%) issue less than one fine per week
 *   Therefore, 72% of councils in England & Wales are either not enforcing the law at all, or effectively not enforcing it
 *   94% of all FPNs issued by councils are for parking fines

Is your council doing its bit?

Exclusive data gathered by InYourArea.co.uk shows a 37% fall in the number of fixed penalty notices handed out by UK councils to people for dropping rubbish.

In 2019, councils issued at least 217,917 fines but in 2020 that dropped to 138,244, according to Freedom of Information requests to councils.

A number of councils said the impact of the pandemic has affected their ability to tackle littering.

Both Dartford in Kent and Lincoln said enforcement stopped in March as the pandemic took hold.

There were 80 councils that said they issued no fines in 2020, up from 50 who issued none in 2019.

See how many fines your local council has issued with your postcode below:

Littering - Index.php
 

Are people being fined for littering where YOU live?

The impact on wildlife

Our lesser spotted woodpecker in the Chilterns measured 68m x 72m

As lockdown restrictions ease in 2021, sadly it's all too likely that scenes of discarded rubbish will once again blight parks, beaches and neighbourhoods.

And that's not to mention the increase many have seen in their communities of PPE - mainly single-use disposable facemasks - simply being thrown to the floor.

So we've refreshed Don't Trash Our Future, which started in summer 2020, and we've done it in some spectacular style with a football pitch-sized mural painted - using biodegradable materials - onto a field in the Chilterns in Buckinghamshire.

The artwork features a lesser spotted woodpecker trapped in a disposable facemask, to illustrate the impact of littering on wildlife. The lesser spotted woodpecker is an endangered species found in the Chilterns - and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - and plays a key role in the local ecosystem.

The lesser spotted woodpecker has been chosen for the campaign as it is an endangered bird found in the Chilterns and is widely acknowledged as an ecosystem engineer.

It only uses its cavity once. It is then recycled by other animals for nesting and roosting by fauna, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Like other birds, its population has been decimated since the 1970s. The eco-friendly woodpecker image measures 72metres by 68metres and took three days to paint.

Buckinghamshire Council is one of a number of authorities which under a Freedom of Information request has admitted that it has not issued any fixed penalty notices or made any prosecutions for dropping litter in the last five years.

Find out more here.

Our survey says

More than 7,500 respondents took part in a major survey in 2020 about littering and its effects on individuals and neighbourhoods.

They told us litter is a big problem where they live (85% said it was a big or major problem), and it’s got worse since lockdown began to ease (according to 64%). It’s also making them miserable - more than half (55%) said seeing litter makes them angry, 20% said it makes them feel sad or depressed, 20% just said they hate it!

Most commonly seen litter was fast food wrappers and cups (seen by 87%), drinks cans (83%), plastic bottles (79%), and plastic bags (54%). McDonald’s was seen as a big problem - 28% of respondents mentioned the chain as a brand they see littered most.

The vast majority of people (97%) think councils should enforce the law against littering - most don't think their council is doing a great job of dealing with litter - on a scale of one to 10, the average was four. They also don’t think there’s enough bins (81%), and they think the maximum fine for littering should be increased (67% said it should be more than the current £150). Two in five people (42%) said they’d be very or somewhat likely to confront litterers, the main thing putting people off doing that was the person’s possible reaction.

Introducing Littergram

Littergram is an interactive smartphone app that helps everyone map the UK's litter problem and highlight just how unacceptable things are.

They are partnering with Don't Trash Our Future to help solve the problem.

Littergram's founder, Kent businessman Danny Lucas, is backing the Don't Trash Our Future campaign which was launched this summer by InYourArea in partnership with Clean Up Britain.

Littergram

Mr Lucas said: "I am absolutely delighted that Littergram has joined forces with the Don’t Trash Our Future campaign.

"For too long, nothing but lip service has been paid to tackling the UK’s litter crisis and we have seen no progress for decades.

"The Littergram app is a disruptive technology that has the ability to empower over 40 million smartphone users to highlight the unacceptable standards we all face on a daily basis. Working together alongside Clean Up Britain, we now have the chance to call to task those that blight our communities and drive behavioural change that will ensure a better future."

Find out more here.

High profile backing

Don't Trash Our Future has already been backed by a series of high profile names.

JLS singer-turned-farmer JB Gill is a passionate advocate for farming and the environment, making numerous appearances on Springwatch and Countryfile, and presenting CBeebies show Down on the Farm.

JB Gill

He has teamed up with InYourArea and Clean Up Britain to launch the campaign, and said: “It’s great to see that people recognise that litter is a public health concern and a major problem. The only way to stop the damage being done to our health, nature and wildlife is to sign the Don’t Trash our Future petition, object to local councils not enforcing fines and demand a higher penalty for those dropping litter.”

Journalist and television presenter Jeremy Paxman is Clean Up Britain’s patron. He said: “There is only one sustainable and effective solution to littering: changing the behaviour of people who do it. Nothing else will work.

Jeremy Paxman

“It pollutes the environment. It's dangerous to humans and animals.

“It depresses people because mucky surroundings make them feel worthless. It's expensive - councils across the UK spend over a billion pounds a year trying to clean it up.”

The campaign has also received the backing of broadcaster and animal rights campaigner Clare Balding and her partner Alice Arnold.

Clare Balding and Alice Arnold

Together, they said: "It's very sad to see so much litter in this country, both in the countryside and in urban areas.

“It has a demoralising effect on all of us and, also, has a very negative impact on animals.

“A shocking reflection of this is that RSPCA vets, last year, treated over 5,000 cases of animals who've been injured by, ingested or become trapped by litter.

“We hope the Clean Up Britain and InYourArea national campaign, Don't Trash Our Future, will change the attitudes and behaviour of people who do litter, and make us all take more care of the naturally beautiful country we are fortunate to share together."

Television presenter Gabby Logan and her husband, former Scottish international rugby star Kenny, leant their support too.

Gabby and Kenny Logan

“We’re urging everyone to get behind the ‘Don’t Trash Our Future’ national anti-litter campaign, and show how much we care about our naturally beautiful country.  Littering is senseless, selfish and costly to us all," they said.  

"It’s only a minority of people who do it, but it negatively affects the quality of life for absolutely everyone.  To use the sporting analogy... it’s a self-inflicted, needless, own goal.  It doesn’t cost a penny to do the socially-responsible right thing, and put your litter in a bin.  Just do it!  Please.”

Further backing has also come from the below:

  • Plastic Oceans UK
  • Rainforest Alliance UK
  • Eden Project Communities
  • Peter Egan
  • Lorraine Kelly
  • Richard Gaisford, Chief Correspondent, Good Morning Britain
  • Baroness Hayman
  • Food Packaging Association (UK)
  • Clean Highways
  • Littergram
  • RSPCA

And several Members of the Scottish Parliament have leant their support to Don't Trash Our Future too.

Media coverage

Don't Trash Our Future is getting extensive media coverage. Here are some of the examples.

JB Gill on Good Morning Britain:

Clean Up Britain founder John Read on BBC Radio 5Live:

Facebook Live with MyLondon:

Front page news on regional daily newspapers and online across the UK:

ITV news:

BBC Spotlight (Devon and Cornwall):

Channel 5 News:

Facebook Lives with Devon Live, Cornwall Live and Plymouth Live:

Facebook Live with WalesOnline:

Facebook Live with Bristol Live:

Facebook Live with Edinburgh Live:

Extensive online press coverage:

Edinburgh Live: False teeth, dirty pants and tyres: we visited the hero locals keeping Wardie Bay clear of litter

Mirror Online: Don’t Trash Our Future: Daily Mirror backs campaign to fine litterbugs £1,000

Daily Express: Don’t Trash our Future – Daily Express launches campaign to clean up Britain

Daily Star: Don’t Trash Our Future: Daily Star backs campaign to increase littering fines to £1,000

Daily Record: Daily Record launch Don’t Trash Our Future campaign to take action against litter louts

Belfast Live: Belfast Live launches Don't Trash Our Future campaign to increase maximum punishment for littering

Edinburgh Live: Be an Edinburgh litter hero and help us clean up the city in our Don't Trash Our Future campaign

Edinburgh Live: Edinburgh left with only 57 environmental wardens 'crucial' to tackling littering

Glasgow Live: Don't Trash Our Future - join the campaign to crack down on litter bugs across the UK

Berkshire Live: Don't Trash Our Future: Help us fight the litter louts ruining our county

Hampshire Live: Don't Trash Our Future: HampshireLive launches anti-littering campaign

Herts Live: Don't Trash Our Future: HertsLive's new campaign to stop littering

Lancs Live: Don't Trash Our Future: LancsLive teams with Clean Up Britain to keep our county rubbish-free

MyLondon: Don't Trash Our Future: Petition calls for huge crackdown on littering in London and fine increase to £1,000

Northants Live: Don't Trash Our Future: NorthantsLive launches anti-littering campaign

Sussex Live: SussexLive launches Don't Trash Our Future campaign

Birmingham Live: Don't Trash Our Future - back our petition to clear up Birmingham's litter problem

Bristol Live: Don't Trash Our Future: let's stand up to tackle the UK's litter epidemic

Chronicle Live: Don’t Trash Our Future: Join the campaign to crackdown on 'irresponsible' litter louts

Hull Live: Don't Trash Our Future: Let's get tough on the litter louts trashing our city

Leicestershire Live: Help us clean up Leicestershire for a brighter future

Liverpool Echo: Don't Trash Our Future: How we can take the fight to the litter louts

Manchester Evening News: Don't Trash Our Future: Join our campaign to toughen laws and tackle littering

Nottinghamshire Live: Don't Trash Our Future: Nottinghamshire Live backs campaign calling for stricter fines for litter louts

Plymouth Live: Don't Trash Our Future: PlymouthLive launches new campaign standing up to litter louts who blight our streets, beaches and countryside

WalesOnline: Don't Trash Our Future: Help fight the epidemic of litter left strewn across our streets, parks and beauty spots

Yorkshire Live: Our message to litter louts in Yorkshire: Don't Trash Our Future

Leeds Live: Time to stamp out littering in Leeds as we launch Don't Trash Our Future campaign

Cambridgeshire Live: Help us clean up Cambridge by cracking down on litter ruining our parks and endangering cows

Coventry Live: Today CoventryLive says Don't Trash Our Future

Derbyshire Live: Don't Trash Our Future: we launch campaign to clean up our streets and countryside

Teesside Live: Don't Trash Our Future: How you can join our campaign to tackle the scourge of litter

Grimsby Live: Don't trash our future - Campaign launched calling for littering fines to be increased to £1,000 with 100 hours of community service

Stoke-on-Trent Live: Don't Trash Our Future: Join our campaign to get tough on litter louts in Stoke-on-Trent

Cheshire Live: Don't Trash Our Future campaign launches to help clean up Cheshire's streets and countryside

Cornwall Live: Cornwall Live launches Don’t Trash Our Future litter campaign

North Wales Live: Time to get tough on litter louts trashing our stunning landscape

Devon Live: Cigarette butts, 'hippy crack' cannisters and chewing gum blight Devon's streets as survey reveals littering has got worse

Essex Live: Don't Trash Our Future: Our campaign to put a stop to littering with harsher punishments and tighter laws

Surrey Live: Don't Trash Our Future anti-litter campaign launched by SurreyLive

Gloucestershire Live: Don’t Trash Our Future - campaign launched to tackle Gloucestershire's litter problem

Kent Live: Don't Trash Our Future: Join our campaign to clean up Kent beaches and parks for good

Lincolnshire Live: Don't Trash Our Future - new campaign to tackle litter epidemic blighting our communities

Somerset Live: Don't Trash Our Future - we're campaigning to clean up Bath and Somerset