Over half of adults in South West admit littering
Environmental charity calls for action to tackle littering as the Great British Spring Clean approaches
A recent survey reveals that 53% of adults in the South West have admitted to littering in the past year.
The data, collected by YouGov for Keep Britain Tidy, highlights concerning levels of littering across areas including Bristol, Cornwall, Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.
With almost 1.6 million people confessing to dropping biodegradable items such as fruit peel and sandwich crusts, the charity emphasizes that all litter contributes to pollution.
The campaign, Great British Spring Clean, will run from 13th to 29th March, aiming to mobilize an army of volunteers to tackle litter across the UK streets, parks, and beaches.
Keep Britain Tidy's CEO, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, expressed the urgency of addressing littering, stating that volunteer efforts are crucial in cleaning up communities.
Ogden-Newton said, "Litter is litter and always bad news for the environment. It doesn’t matter if you leave a cup on a wall or hide it in a bush, it’s still litter and it’s still pollution."
She stressed the financial burden that littering places on local authorities, with costs amounting to £1 billion annually.
Participants can pledge to join the cleanup efforts via the charity’s website and register for the Litter Heroes programme, sponsored by People’s Postcode Lottery.
Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, commended the volunteers, saying their actions send a strong message for protecting local environments.
"It’s inspiring to see volunteers in action protecting the local environment in communities throughout Britain, sending a strong message that we can all play a part in loving where we live and protecting nature," Chow said.
The campaign is supported by a range of partners including Bauer Media Outdoor, Magic Radio, The Mirror, and several popular brands like KFC, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Pepsi MAX, and Walkers.
For more details, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.