Litter plea after it rises in lockdown at nature reserve
Residents urged to be responsible
ROAD bosses are calling on residents to be more responsible about disposing of litter after rubbish levels increased at the car park of a nature reserve during lockdown.
A microwave was just one of the miscellaneous items found dumped at the car park for Farlington Marshes, near to the A27, by Highways England contractors who collected 10 bin bags in two hours as they were clearing the area last week.
During lockdown the levels of rubbish have increased in the car park and litter picks have been upped to daily during the week.
Highways England service manager in maintenance, Matthew Salt said: ‘ Farlington Marshes is a popular place and in lockdown has been a place for people to go to get fresh air, but that has meant we have seen an increase in the rubbish.
‘Our contractors then have to pick up the litter which this time included a microwave but we have also had human waste which is horrid for our team to have to pick up. We have put more bins in the car park and we want people to dispose of their rubbish in the bins or take it home.’
Between April and August, Highways England contractors have cleared 28,803 bags of litter in the south east.
Nicola Bell, regional director for Highways England in
the South East, said: ‘Litter is not only unsightly and a risk to wildlife and the environment, but it also puts our workers at risk collecting it and it diverts time and money that could be better spent.
‘The simple fact is that if litter wasn’t dropped in the first place it wouldn’t need to be picked up.’
The Highways England team take part in the Keep Britain Today campaign every year to help increase awareness.
Deputy Chief Executive at Keep Britain Tidy, Richard McIlwain, added: ‘Rubbish, dangerously thrown from vehicles and left to rot on our roads, is a national disgrace.
‘That’s why we welcome Highways England getting involved and see this as an important step in tackling arguably one of Britain’s worst forms of littering.
‘Their work clearing up the mess left by mindless roadusers is costly, puts workers lives at risk and remains a never-ending task.’