February 13th 2024
National Highways has begged road users to stop littering
The RSPCA have received over 10,000 reports of animals being harmed as a result of discarded litter over the last three years – almost 10 per day.
On Monday, 12th February 2023, National Highways, a government-owned organisation that looks after roads, launched their new campaign ‘Lend a paw – bin your litter’ as a result of shocking figures that have been revealed by leading animal charity the RSPCA.
The charity, who have joined forces with National Highways to launch the campaign, has highlighted that within the last three years, they have received over 10,000 reports of animals being found injured, trapped, or dead due to litter.
These shocking findings prompted National Highways to launch a survey in January 2024 which found that almost half of the people involved were unaware that fruit peel and apple cores counted as litter. However, these disregarded leftovers can lead animals into fatal situations.
In addition, almost a third of survey participants – 2,000 people were questioned overall – thought dropping organic waste like apple cores or leftover food on the road was beneficial to wildlife, while around a third weren’t sure or didn’t know.
The survey also outlined that while more than 90% of people said they had never discarded litter onto the roadside, over 60% said they had seen someone else doing it.
As well as launching the campaign, National Highways have also run a trial using AI-enabled cameras in conjunction with a local authority that is carrying out enforcement. This is part of a long-term plan to rid roads and motorway service areas of rubbish.
The government-led organisation have likewise trialled message signs to reduce littering and used geofencing to send texts to motorists entering laybys where littering is an issue to prompt them to take their waste home.
National Highways chief executive Nick Harris said: ‘Littering is a dreadful social problem. It’s not just unsightly, it can have a deadly impact on wildlife, turning verges into lethal roadside restaurants.
‘We’re working hard to tackle it on our roads, with our people litter-picking every day. To keep them safe we have to close motorway lanes, which delays drivers and costs millions of pounds.
‘But if people don’t drop litter in the first place it wouldn’t need to be picked up – so we urge road users to take their litter home.’
National Highways will be taking part in the upcoming Great British Spring Clean for the ninth year running.
‘We welcome National Highways’ campaign to raise awareness about the dangers wildlife faces from litter discarded by the roadside,’ Geoff Edmond, RSPCA lead wildlife officer said. ‘Our rescuers deal with thousands of incidents every year where animals have been impacted by litter. Old drinks cans and bottles, plastic items and even disposable vapes are just some of the items that pose a danger to our wildlife including hedgehogs, squirrels, deer, and foxes.’
Edmond added: ‘Animals can ingest the litter, become trapped in it, or be attracted to old food on the roadside which puts them in danger of moving vehicles.
‘Sadly, for every animal we’re able to help there are probably many others that go unseen, unreported and may even lose their lives.’
Image: John Cameron