National Highways Joins Big Litter Battle Across Britain
National Highways, the government-owned road boss, has thrown its weight behind Keep Britain Tidy’s national litter-picking blitz. Kicking off today (25 March) and running until 10 April, the campaign aims to clear mountains of rubbish from UK roads.
£1 Billion a Year Down the Drain
Litter wrecks the environment and costs a staggering £1 billion annually to clear up. It piles up dangerously on road verges and barriers, putting drivers, wildlife, and cleanup crews at serious risk.
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.”
Local Crews Team Up to Fight Filth
National Highways works closely with local councils who manage litter on most A-roads. In February, Stoke-on-Trent council teamed up with National Highways to clear over 15 tonnes of rubbish from the A50 during road closures — saving the council around £40,000 and sparing drivers extra hassle.
Councillor Carl Edwards, cabinet member for housing and environment, said:
“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.”
High-Tech Tactics & Community Clean-Ups
National Highways handles litter on England’s motorways and a few A-roads. April kicks off with a “day of action” on the M56 near Manchester, where teams will hunt down litter hotspots alongside Keep Britain Tidy.
Near Sheffield, crews are spring cleaning roadside drains and culverts, tackling fly-tipped rubbish to help prevent floods.
Down in the South East, GoPro cameras monitor problem areas, including the M25, tracking how fast rubbish piles up after cleaning.
Meanwhile, National Highways staff are rolling up their sleeves and litter-picking in their local communities.
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.”
