An independent report published by Keep Wales Tidy has revealed the extent of littered packaging from ‘on-the-go’ food and drink.
The report published revealed that packaging litter was found on 64.2% of streets across the country in 2021-2022.
‘How Clean Are Our Streets? is the first report of its kind since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It brings together results from thousands of street cleanliness surveys to give a ‘snapshot’ of litter and other environmental quality issues.
Among types of packaging recorded, litter from confectionery, including sweet wrappers and crisp packets, was found on nearly half of streets. Drinks litter remained at pre-pandemic levels and was found on 44% streets.
Many environmental charities, including Keep Wales Tidy and its counterparts in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, believe the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the UK could be a game-changer in eliminating packaging litter and waste.
An EPR scheme would require packaging producers to pay for the treatment or disposal of their goods. This is intended to encourage producers to reduce waste and promote more sustainable product design. As is the case with many other European countries, the current proposals also suggest that the costs of littering should be covered.
For more details, including the survey methodology, visit Keep Wales Tidy is Policy and Research pages
Chief Executive for Keep Wales Tidy Lesley Jones said:
“The prevalence of littered packaging across Wales further strengthens the case for EPR. The responsibility for tackling litter does not rest solely with local authorities and the financial burden on the public purse must be reduced.
“We know last year’s public consultation on EPR received strong support. The proposed scheme has the potential to transform the way the private sector supports street cleansing, community action and litter prevention activities.”
Lee Waters, Deputy Minister for Climate Change said:
There are no excuses for littering and we want to ensure everyone takes responsibility for disposing of their waste properly. We continue to work with organisations like Keep Wales Tidy to stop it from happening in the first place so everyone can enjoy our communities and the fantastic scenery Wales has to offer. We agree with the principles of an EPR scheme and will make an announcement in due course.
Other headline results from the How Clean Are Our Streets? report include:
- Litter dropped by pedestrians remains the most common source.
- Smoking litter is the most common type of litter, found on 74.6% of streets.
- PPE litter was included in the street cleanliness surveys for the first time. Masks were found on 8% of streets (approximately 10,700 littered masks).
- The presence of alcoholic drink bottles and cans was also recorded for the first time and found on 15.5% of streets.
- Dog fouling was recorded on 8% of streets – the lowest figure since street cleanliness surveys began in 2007-08.
The street cleanliness surveys were carried out as part of Caru Cymru – an initiative led by Keep Wales Tidy and local authorities to eradicate litter and waste. Caru Cymru has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Visit the Keep Wales Tidy website for more information: www.keepwalestidy.cymru