National Highways exposes our roadside littering problem

New research by National Highways has revealed that 65% of drivers who admit to littering have discarded food and drink waste on the roadside, contributing to a major environmental and safety issue.

Of those who admitted to littering:

• 22% say they do it out of habit.

• 20% wrongly believe biodegradable items help wildlife, despite them contributing to three million animal deaths a year.

• 15% claim they lack the time to dispose of waste properly.

• 13% justify their actions by saying, “everyone does it.”

The study also highlighted a worrying attitude towards litter collection, with 10% of drivers believing that those who pick up roadside litter are not at risk.

The findings show that littering is particularly prevalent among younger drivers. Nearly one in three (31%) of 18 to 24-year-olds and almost a quarter (24% of 25 to 34-year-olds) admitted to discarding rubbish on roadsides in the past year. Meanwhile, 19% of 35 to 44-year-olds also confessed to littering.

The research has been released as National Highways prepares to support the Great British Spring Clean for the tenth consecutive year, reinforcing its commitment to cleaner roads.

Taking place from Friday, 21 March to Sunday, 6 April, the annual Keep Britain Tidy campaign encourages communities to come together to tackle litter.

National Highways teams aim to collect at least 5,500 bags of litter from roadsides during the campaign, contributing to the nationwide target of over 425,000 bags collected in 2024.

Freda Rashdi, Head of Customer Journeys at National Highways, urged people to take action: “We’re proud to support the Great British Spring Clean for the tenth consecutive year and encourage everyone who can to get involved - whether by joining local litter-picking events or simply disposing of waste responsibly.

“Littering doesn’t just harm the environment, it also puts those who clean it up at risk. Plus, it can have devastating effects on wildlife and animals. By working together, we can help keep our roads and communities clean and safe.”

To combat the issue, National Highways has introduced a new series of anti-littering signs on slip roads across the country. These signs aim to encourage drivers and passengers to dispose of their waste responsibly and highlight the dangers of roadside litter to both wildlife and road safety.

Allison Ogden-Newton, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, stressed the importance of action: “With more vehicles than ever before on our roads and a significant increase in food and drink on-the-go culture, roadside litter is a growing problem. It presents a massive challenge to those who are tasked with looking after our road network and a danger to the wildlife that actually thrives on the verges and banking by our motorways.”

National Highways’ involvement in the Great British Spring Clean is part of a broader effort to change behaviour, promote responsible waste disposal, and maintain cleaner roads.

Regional litter-picking events will take place throughout the campaign, with National Highways employees, supply chain partners, and local communities working together to make a difference.