National Highways, the government-owned road authority, has partnered with Keep Britain Tidy to support a nationwide litter-picking campaign. Starting on 25 March and running until 10 April, the Great British Spring Clean aims to clear vast amounts of rubbish from roads across the UK.
Litter causes significant environmental damage and costs an estimated £1 billion each year to remove. It accumulates dangerously on road verges and barriers, posing risks to drivers, wildlife, and cleanup teams.
Freda Rashdi, Head of Customer and Operational Requirements at National Highways, said: “We’ve taken up Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Big Bag Challenge’ and pledged to pick at least 8,000 bags of litter this Great British Spring Clean. Over the last six years, we’ve collected an incredible 60,000 bags and are proud to be part of this vital cause for the seventh year running. Keeping roads safe and tidy is a daily battle, and we value Keep Britain Tidy’s support in tackling litter. But the truth is, if people stopped chucking rubbish out in the first place, we wouldn’t have to pick it up. We urge everyone to save their litter for the bin.”
National Highways collaborates closely with local councils, which manage litter on most A-roads. In February, Stoke-on-Trent council joined forces with National Highways to remove over 15 tonnes of rubbish from the A50 during road closures. This effort saved the council approximately £40,000 and reduced inconvenience for drivers.
Councillor Carl Edwards, cabinet member for housing and environment, commented: “Thanks to National Highways for spotlighting the litter problem on our roads. Dropping rubbish isn’t just ugly — it’s dangerous for drivers, cyclists, and the crews who pick it up. We’re proud of our city, and while we’d rather educate than fine, we will penalise offenders to keep streets clean. Our simple message: stash your litter in your car and bin it properly when you get home.”
National Highways is responsible for litter management on England’s motorways and select A-roads. April will begin with a “day of action” on the M56 near Manchester, where teams will target litter hotspots alongside Keep Britain Tidy. Near Sheffield, crews are cleaning roadside drains and culverts and removing fly-tipped rubbish to help prevent flooding.
In the South East, GoPro cameras are monitoring problem areas such as the M25 to track how quickly litter accumulates after cleaning. Meanwhile, National Highways staff are actively participating in local community litter-picking efforts.
Allison Ogden-Newton, CEO of Keep Britain Tidy, added: “We’re thrilled National Highways is once again backing the Great British Spring Clean by targeting litter hotspots on our roads. This work is often risky — we strongly warn the public not to litter-pick on fast roads as it’s incredibly dangerous. Please respect highway workers who face serious hazards collecting rubbish dumped from vehicles. Keep your litter in your car until you can bin it safely.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
