Are we a nation of litter louts or do we really want to Keep Britain Tidy?

I AM surprised that Richard McIlwain, of Keep Britain Tidy, says: ‘I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t hate litter and wants something done about it.’ A recent poll for McDonald’s found that 47 per cent of 18 to 25-year-olds dropped litter during the lockdown in streets, parks and rural areas. A shocking 33 tons of rubbish was left behind on Bournemouth beach by the mainly young people who flocked there in their thousands on the hottest day of the year. What’s really I AM delighted Keep Britain Tidy and the Daily Mail have relaunched the Great British Spring Clean after its Covid-19 postponement. Litter is an ugly scar on our country. It has many repercussions for the environment, wildlife and wellbeing, and costs councils huge sums to clean up. I’ll be doing my bit with Malton and Norton Tidy Group, along with thousands nationally, to help clean up.

N. FLETCHER, Malton, N. Yorks.

required long term is a mass deep-clean of young minds.

TERRY HICKMAN, Southampton, Hants.

NOW the fast-food chains have reopened after a three-month enforced closure, once again there’s litter on our streets.

PETE WILLIAMS, Hayes End, Middlesex. SEEING photos of rubbish left on the beach at Brighton, I am concerned that the council should have expected many visitors, but made a pathetic effort at rubbish management. they then blamed the visitors for overflowing bins.

JON BAMFORTH, Poole, Dorset.

NUMEROUS times I have seen bins full to the top and rubbish bags left beside them. Beaches, parks and shopping areas need bigger bins that are emptied more often throughout the day. Most people try their best not to drop litter.

JEAN THOMAS, Warrington, Cheshire. THERE should be a hefty deposit on cans, bottles and packaging. We can’t hope to create a culture of cleanliness when a sizeable minority have no incentive to recycle.

KEITH WEYMAN, Watford, Herts.

WHY campaign to clean up other people’s rubbish? The message should be don’t drop litter in the first place — take it home instead. Until people stop throwing litter out of cars, there will be campaigns year after year.

A. McGRATH, Wallingford, Oxon. BEACHES and parks never used to be left in such a terrible state. Cash-starved councils can’t afford bins, but that’s no excuse for the amount of litter that people leave behind. they would be the first to complain if rubbish was left in their street, yet think nothing of travelling to a tourist town and leaving it for others to clean up. Shame on these selfish people who want to enjoy themselves and don’t care about everyone else.

COLIN GRIMMER, Lowestoft, Suffolk.