Research commissioned by National Highways has revealed that 65% of drivers who admit to littering have discarded food and drink waste on the roadside.

Of those who admitted to littering:

22% say they litter out of habit

20% intentionally discard biodegradable items to feed wildlife – despite the fact this causes 3 million animal deaths a year

15% do it because they say they don’t have time to dispose of it properly

13% justify their actions by claiming “everyone does it”

While roadside litter is a nationwide issue, it is more prevalent among young drivers, with nearly one in three (31%) of 18 to 24-year-olds and almost a quarter (24%) of 25 to 34-year-olds admitting to discarding litter on the roadside in the past year. Meanwhile, 19% of 35 to 44-year-olds confess to similar behaviour.

In addition, 10% of drivers do not think that people who have to pick up litter from the side of the road are taking any risks with their lives.

The research is released as National Highways prepares to support the Great British Spring Clean for the tenth consecutive year, reinforcing its commitment to keeping the nation’s roads clean and litter-free.

Taking place from Friday 21 March to Sunday 6 April, the Great British Spring Clean, led by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, is an annual campaign which encourages communities across the country to come together and tackle litter in their local areas.

This year, National Highways teams have set a target of collecting at least 5,500 bags of litter from across the network. The team’s efforts contributed to the national total of over 425,000 bags collected during the 2024 campaign.

A new range of anti-littering signs have been installed on slip roads nationwide to urge drivers and passengers to play their part in keeping the country’s roads clean, protecting both the environment, wildlife and overall safety of road users. The messaging aims to influence driver and passenger behaviour to dispose of litter responsibly.

A study carried out by National Highways last year found littering can have a deadly impact on wildlife. The results revealed that nearly half of participants were unaware that items like fruit peels and apple cores – which lure animals into often fatal situations – fall into the litter category. The research also unveiled widespread confusion among road users on the connection between littering and wildlife safety, with drivers who admitted to littering, not viewing biodegradable food as litter.

National Highways Head of Customer Journeys, Freda Rashdi, said:

“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.”

Allison Ogden-Newton, Chief Executive of environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, said:

“With more vehicles than ever before on our roads and a significant increase in our 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.

“The Great British Spring Clean is an opportunity for everyone who cares about the environment on their doorstep to do something to tackle the blight of plastic pollution and we are grateful to National Highways for their support.”

National Highways’ involvement in the Great British Spring Clean is part of a broader strategy to influence behaviour, promote responsible waste disposal, and maintain cleaner roads. Throughout the campaign, regional litter-picking events will take place with National Highways employees, supply chain partners, and local communities joining forces to make a difference.

PIC: National Highways