Littered items are often brightly-coloured, non-degradable and toxic. They spoil the view, pollute the land and endanger wildlife. And they are often made from valuable materials that could be recycled such as glass, aluminium and plastic – all of which are wasted when left as litter.
Dorset CPRE and Litter
Dorset CPRE has been involved in litter campaigning since Paul Goldman, from East Orchard in North Dorset, and Richard Mann, then Dorset CPRE Director, convened the first meeting of the Rural Litter Initiative in September 2003. The title of the Group was soon changed to Dorset Campaign Against Litter (DCAL). The Campaign merged with the Litter Free Dorset (LFD) launced in March 2017.
Litter Free Dorset
Litter Free Dorset – Land, Coast and Sea campaign to reduce litter and waste as well as improve water quality across Dorset. We can all help to keep our streets, towns and beaches clean from litter and safe for everyone.
Deposit Return System
For over 12 years CPRE has been campaigning for a deposit return system, where a small deposit would be applied on any drinks container, which is then refunded when it is returned for recycling.
In March 2018, the government promised to ‘introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) in England for single use drinks containers, subject to consultation.’ CPRE believe that there are many within the drinks, retail and packaging industries attempting to dilute the system and limit the type and size of containers that will be included. CPRE are clear that most effective deposit scheme will collect cans, bottles and cartons of all sizes and materials. The long-awaited DRS has been pushed back. In 2021 CPRE heard that the government plans to delay the scheme until 2024 – pushing the responsibility onto a new government.