• The coronavirus pandemic has shone a light on our throwaway culture and England’s broken waste and litter system
• The government needs to do far more to tackle litter and support local authorities to create comprehensive refuse and recycling systems.
• This includes tackling PPE littering by promoting the benefits of reusable masks where possible and encouraging people to dispose of any single-use masks responsibly.

Over a third of adults in England (38%) have seen more litter near to where they live since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and over three quarters (76%) have noticed more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) being littered, according to a new YouGov poll, commissioned by CPRE.

You can view a recording of the launch of the 'Litter in Lockdown' report on the CPRE YouTube channel.

Four in five people (78%) would like to see the government take more action to tackle the scourge of litter. CPRE is therefore calling on the government not to delay and stick to its original timetable for a fully inclusive Deposit Return Scheme to reduce waste and litter and boost recycling.

Commenting on the findings, Isla Lester, 9-year-old anti-litter advocate from Dorset and CPRE ‘Green Clean’ participant, said:

‘I think more people should litter pick and think before they act, so the world can be much cleaner, much faster. This could be tackled in 2 ways: educationally and practically

‘It would be good if environmental issues were part of school lessons. Children need to be shown what polluting our planet really does. We need to see it for ourselves by going outside - having trips to the sea to look at the impact that litter has on beaches and sea life, and then doing things like litter picking. I think local businesses should also help by putting things in place to not add to waste in their areas, but to get rid of it.

‘I just want more people to follow me and make the world a better place. We need everybody to work as a team to make a difference.’

Edd Moore, Eco Coordinator said:

‘Our Environmental work is led so passionately by the children. To have inspired so many businesses, charity groups, schools and the Dorchester Town Council is a testament to their enthusiasm and hard work in reducing single use plastic across Dorchester.’

During the coronavirus pandemic, litter rates have risen in many areas across England. Ever-present wrappers, cartons, bottles and cups have been joined by plastic gloves and facemasks, all building up in our countryside. Litter has been a major problem for decades, but lockdown has led to new types and unprecedented levels in different places. This is reflected in the YouGov poll which quizzed nearly two thousand respondents (1964) across England on their perceptions of changes in litter since March 2020, finding that:

• Over three quarters (76%) of respondents noticed more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) litter since the start of lockdown with nearly half (48%) noticing a lot more;
• Over one in three people (38%) noticed more litter near to where they live since the start of lockdown, while a third (34%) noticed about the same amount of litter;  
• 39% of respondents noticed more fly tipping since the start of lockdown; and
• Just over three quarters of the English public (78%) agree that the government should be taking more action to tackle litter, including a third (33%) who strongly agree government should be doing more;

Sophie Colley from Litter Free Dorset said:

‘It has been disheartening to see littering behaviour increase in Dorset this year following lockdown however despite this communities and organisations have come together to tackle issues across the county. Numerous litter picking groups and individual litter heroes helped clean our beaches, beauty spots and greenspaces. A campaign was launched to target BBQ litter as well as messages spread to encourage people to responsibly dispose of their PPE. Thank you to the individuals across Dorset who work so hard to keep Dorset beautiful.’

 Crispin Truman, chief executive of CPRE, the countryside charity, said:

‘Litter is a completely avoidable blight that currently scars our countryside. As more people than ever before venture into their local green space or countryside next door, it's crucial that the government redoubles efforts to tackle litter and stops it piling up in our beautiful countryside.

‘That’s why ministers must follow through on pledges to tackle the scourge of litter. By investing in whole system solutions to address litter, including a fully inclusive Deposit Return Scheme, we can deal with the long-lasting problem once and for all.

‘That means no more delays on a fully inclusive Deposit Return Scheme, which should be introduced by 2023 at the latest. Hugely successful in other European countries, these schemes are proven to help drive unprecedented recycling rates and ensure thousands of tonnes of litter don’t end up in the countryside. We need a waste system that is responsive to changes in behavior – our current system has been failing for a long time, the pandemic simply put a spotlight on the waste crisis and it’s high time ministers stepped in.’

On the back of a wave of public support, the government set out plans for how they would better deal with resources and waste in 2018. Over two years later, these plans continue to be delayed further following pressure from drinks manufacturers, among others. The poll reveals a delay would be against public opinion and there is a large appetite for government and business action. Three in five adults (60%) agree that organisations that produce single use items should do more to ensure they’re disposed of in the right way.

The poll has also revealed stark changes in where the public is spending their time in light of coronavirus-related regulations and the ‘Litter in lockdown’ study shows that where people go, litter follows. These include:

• One in three adults (34%) reported spending more time in the countryside since the start of lockdown;
• One in three adults (32%) have spent more time in parks and this rises to 44% for those who have children under the age of 4; and
• Three quarters of the public (75%) have spent less time in inner city high streets and 69% have spent less time in local high streets showing a major shift in where people spend their time.

Alongside the poll, CPRE has launched Litter in lockdown, a study that looks at trends in litter and waste since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. The study was launched at an online event on 17th December attended by Environment Minister Rebecca Pow MP; Isla Lester, 9-year-old anti-litter advocate from Dorset and CPRE ‘Green Clean’ participant; Cat Chapman, co-author of the ‘Litter in lockdown’ study; and Feryal Clark MP, member of the Environmental Audit Committee. 

A representative from Dorset CPRE, Litter Free Dorset, and Edd Moore attended the online launch.