National Highways, the government-owned body responsible for motorways and major roads, has joined forces with Keep Britain Tidy for the Great British Spring Clean, taking place from 25 March to 10 April. Their goal is to remove tonnes of dangerous and costly litter from the roads.
Litter causes significant environmental damage and results in a cleanup cost of around £1 billion every year. Beyond being unsightly, rubbish dumped on road verges and barriers accumulates quickly, creating hazards for drivers, wildlife, and the dedicated crews who collect it.
Freda Rashdi from National Highways said, “We’ve pledged to pick at least 8,000 bags of litter this year – adding to the 60,000 bags collected over the last six campaigns. Litter is a huge daily problem, and we’re proud to team up with Keep Britain Tidy for the seventh year running.”
She added, “The truth is simple: if people didn’t drop litter, there’d be nothing to pick up. We’re urging everyone to save litter for the bin.”
Working closely with local councils, National Highways has made significant progress. In February, Stoke-on-Trent council collaborated with National Highways, using road closures to clear 15 tonnes of litter from the A50. This effort saved £40,000 and reduced disruption for drivers.
Cllr Carl Edwards from Stoke-on-Trent commented, “Litter on roads is dangerous for both those collecting it and drivers. We hate fining people, but the message is clear – keep your litter in your car and bin it later to keep our city clean.”
National Highways manages litter on motorways and some A-roads. In early April, a ‘day of action’ is planned on the M56 near Manchester, with Keep Britain Tidy crews taking part. Teams in Sheffield are cleaning culverts and drainage systems to tackle fly-tipping and reduce flood risks. GoPro cameras are used to track litter hotspots on busy routes like the M25, helping to identify problem areas quickly. Additionally, staff volunteer to pick litter in their local communities, setting an example.
Allison Ogden-Newton, CEO of Keep Britain Tidy, said, “We’re thrilled National Highways is back supporting the Spring Clean with dedicated litter pick-ups across the road network. This work is risky, so we urge the public not to litter-pick on fast roads – it’s far too dangerous.”
She continued, “Please respect the risks highway workers face collecting rubbish thrown from vehicles and keep your litter in until it can be disposed of properly.”
National Highways and Keep Britain Tidy are calling on everyone to take responsibility. The message is clear: don’t drop litter. Save it for the bin and help keep Britain’s roads safe and spotless.
Originally published by UKNIP.
