In this article, Freda Rashdi, Head of Customer Journeys at National Highways and Geoff Edmond, National Wildlife Lead for the animal charity RSPCA, discuss the issue of roadside litter. They explain how the two organisations are working together to tackle its impact on the environment and wildlife surrounding the road network.

A widespread issue calls for collective action

Over the past two years, the RSPCA has responded to nearly 8,000 incidents involving animals and litter. Gulls, swans, pigeons, geese and foxes are among the worst affected, with others including hedgehogs, deer and even domestic animals also bearing the brunt. Animals are getting stuck in tin cans, takeaway cartons, plastic bags and caught up in the strings of discarded balloons. The coronavirus pandemic has brought previously unseen forms of litter onto the streets and open spaces of Britain – disposable face masks and plastic gloves.

Geoff said the RSPCA sees rubbish collect quickly at the roadside across most of the country, despite daily efforts from National Highways and other authorities to clear it. Not only does this have a direct impact on wildlife when getting caught in and injured by litter, it also has much further-reaching consequences for the environment: "I was out doing a litter pick and found some disposed drink cans. Inside those cans were snails and slugs that couldn't get out, probably attracted by the alcohol in the cans. That's the food of blackbirds and song thrushes. So, we're seeing now that litter is actually interrupting the food chain.

The amount of litter dropped each year in the UK has increased by a massive 500% since the 1960s – to around 30 million tonnes of litter dropped every year. No one agency can take on this enormous responsibility alone. Geoff added: "There's a lot of work to be done in educating people, talking to people, looking at the many aspects of litter across our countryside. Because of that, it's key that we work together in partnership, share ideas and, more importantly, understanding."

Freda agrees, "Working together is extremely important so that we can gather not just our own, but others' insight. This helps us ensure we're tackling the right things in the right way." National Highways focuses its action against litter in four areas: Understanding and influencing littering behaviour, continuously improving how the organisation picks litter, seeking and responding to customer feedback about litter, and working in collaboration with partners.

Both organisations agree that the multi-agency approach is the way forward and are always looking at how they can go further. "National Highways cares very much about litter for a variety of reasons. With safety being our number one priority, the key issue is that it presents real risks and hazards when on high-speed roads, both for drivers and those that clean up the litter. We also know it can cause significant harm to wildlife surrounding our network." Freda said.

"We're working hard towards our vision for roads that are free from litter. But we know that's not achievable without working with others. Part of that is encouraging people to dispose of their rubbish responsibly" she added, "once litter is dumped, you don't know where it will end up or who it might harm."

Insight that feeds interventions

National Highways conducts regular research to better understand why people litter from vehicles, and what might change this, before focusing efforts on changing behaviour.

Freda said: "Last year we asked Keep Britain Tidy to undertake some research for us to find out more about who litters on our roads and why.

"There were several focus groups - it's quite surprising that people do admit to littering for various reasons. 16% of drivers said that they had disposed of an item of rubbish from a vehicle window. The proportion of people who admitted to littering from a vehicle window increased among people with children under the age of four, and those who use our road network more often. By far, fruit cores and peels are what most people admit to throwing out their window. This is likely due to the perceived lack of harm from littering these items. Cigarette butts are the items most frequently littered, with 12% of the respondents saying they disposed of these from their vehicle window monthly. We're now working on targeted interventions to tackle these specific issues."

Driving understanding and behavioural change among the public is clearly central to success. When it comes to how, Geoff said: "The bins and poster campaigns - warning people of the dangers of littering and encouraging awareness – funded by National Highways are helpful. Educating the public and changing behaviour at a grassroots level, such as in schools, also makes a difference."

Outside taking direct action to stop littering, Freda also discusses the positive opportunities for protecting wildlife around the road network: "As a significant landowner, National Highways has an important role to play in increasing biodiversity around our road network. Our verges and green areas provide homes to a rich and diverse range of species, vital to a healthy ecosystem. They also create invaluable green corridors which connect different habitats. A great example is our work around the A30 and A38 in Devon and Cornwall, where we've planted over 10,000 native trees and shrubs to fill gaps in the hedgerow and woodland. This has provided around three extra miles of vegetation and connected more than 105 miles of habitat along the roadside."

The Great British Spring Clean as a catalyst for change

A Keep Britain Tidy initiative, now in its seventh year, The Great British Spring Clean sees hundreds of thousands of litter heroes join forces and take action against litter. The annual campaign has the full support of National Highways and the RSPCA. Both organisations actively take part in litter picking during the event. Over the past six years, National Highways has collected more than 60,000 bags of litter in support of the campaign.

Geoff said: "The Great British Spring Clean is about getting out and cleaning our environment, being proud of where we live, work and play. I hope many people will get involved. It's something you can do from the moment you walk outside your front door."

Freda added: "National Highways fully supports the Great British Spring Clean. We're tackling litter at known hotspots on our network, while also pushing our volunteering programme, where we encourage colleagues and suppliers to pick litter near to where they live and work."

Both agencies are calling on people to do their part. Geoff said: "We've got a wonderful country, with equally wonderful wildlife and habitats that we all need. Let's not spoil it. Simple techniques, like tying a knot in a plastic bag to stop it becoming a hazard can make a difference. To make an impact, it comes down to people following the 'three R's': recognise there's a problem, record it - this could be a photograph on your mobile phone - and report it."

You too can help keep our motorways tidy by reporting litter online here or by calling National Highways on 0300 123 5000.