Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle littering in rural areas.

The Prime Minister’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan set out how we will support councils across the country to take tougher action against those who litter. For example, last year we significantly raised the upper limit on fixed penalty notices from £150 to £500 and from 1 April 2024 councils will have to spend this income on enforcement or clean up activity. We have previously given district councils powers to hold the keeper of a vehicle responsible for littering offences committed from it.

Natural England refreshed the Countryside Code in 2021 which makes clear visitors’ responsibilities in protecting the environment when accessing the outdoors. This includes the need to take rubbish and food waste home, use public bins or recycle if possible.

National Highways’ recent campaign aimed to change road users’ behaviour towards littering. The campaign ran from 12 February to 10 March and road users were implored to stop littering as its deadly impact on wildlife was revealed.