CPRE, the countryside charity calls for lockdown litter to end

Calling for the public, business and government to tackle the blight of litter as lockdown eases, Crispin Truman, chief executive of CPRE, the countryside charity, said: 

‘Litter is a completely avoidable blight that currently scars our countryside. Through lockdown we have seen litter rates soar in too many areas, with wrappers, cartons, bottles and cups ever-present and made even worse by the addition of plastic gloves and facemasks strewn across what should be our green and pleasant land. This must stop’ 

‘While the public has a role to play to ensure that we make littering socially unacceptable; the current situation shows government must do far more to support local authorities to create comprehensive refuse and recycling systems and curb our throwaway culture. 

‘For years now, the plastic and waste crises have been high on the public agenda, but industry lobbyists have slowed any meaningful government response. This cannot continue. The government must take a stand and make the polluter pay by bringing forward an ‘all-in’ Deposit Return Scheme that will form a fundamental part of the green and resilient recovery from coronavirus that’s so desperately needed.’