National Highways Joins Big Litter Fight in Great British Spring Clean
The government-owned National Highways is back in action for Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean, running from 25 March to 10 April. Their mission? To clear the roads of tonnes of dangerous and costly litter.
Litter Costs Billions and Puts Lives at Risk
Litter damages the environment and racks up a massive £1 billion cleanup bill every year. It’s not just an eyesore – dumped rubbish on road verges and barriers builds up fast, creating hazards for drivers, wildlife, and the brave crews who pick it up.
Freda Rashdi, National Highways: “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.”
“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,” Rashdi added.
Local Heroes Team Up and Tackle the Trash
Working closely with councils, National Highways has made great strides. In February, stoke-on-trent/" title="Stoke-on-Trent" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Stoke-on-Trent council joined forces using road closures to clear a whopping 15 tonnes of litter from the A50, saving £40,000 and cutting disruption for drivers.
Cllr Carl Edwards, Stoke-on-Trent: “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.”
High-Tech and Human Efforts Drive Change
- National Highways manages litter on motorways and some A-roads.
- Early April sees a ‘day of action’ on the M56 near Manchester with Keep Britain Tidy crews.
- Sheffield teams clean culverts and drainage systems, tackling fly-tipping and reducing flood risks.
- GoPro cameras track litter hotspots on busy routes like the M25, helping spot problem areas fast.
- Staff also volunteer to pick litter in their local communities, leading by example.
Allison Ogden-Newton, Keep Britain Tidy CEO: “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.”
“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 step up. It’s a simple job: don’t drop litter. Save it for the bin and help keep Britain’s roads safe and spotless.
