Highway Trash! Council calls out road users for throwing tons of litter from car windows

Cllr Andrew Doherty, Cabinet Member for the Environment at Cotswold District Council, said: “We perform regular street and road cleansing activities in the Cotswolds to ensure our roads and public spaces are kept clean for all. That’s why it is a shame we see crews collecting thousands of tonnes of waste along the side of our roads every year. 

“Through our Clean and Green Cotswolds initiative, our teams have gone over and above our usual cleaning responsibilities this year. In the latest ring road cleanse our crews have cleared 1.6 tonnes of litter by hand and cleared over 30 tonnes of waste in road sweeping activities, to ensure safety and cleanliness along our roadways.

“We ask that anyone who lives, works or travels through our beautiful district to please respect the area, take your rubbish home with you and dispose of it responsibly. 

“We are incredibly fortunate to be situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and it is our collective responsibility to do everything we can to maintain the landscape and nature in the Cotswolds.”

Dropping litter is an offence. This includes throwing litter from a vehicle. Offenders can be issued a fixed penalty fine of £75 for offences and face prosecution. If you witness an offence, please report it online at: cotswold.gov.uk/report.

The Council’s waste management partner Ubico has carried out three days of intense cleaning this week along the Cirencester ring road, from Grove Lane to Tetbury Hill. Crews have collected 1.6 tonnes of litter by hand and swept over 30 tonnes of waste from this ring road cleanse alone.

Additional funding has been allocated to street and road cleansing services, through the Cotswold Clean and Green initiative, in order to better maintain the cleanliness and appearance of the district. 

Cllr Doherty, added: “I am very grateful for the hard work of the Ubico crews. Their continued excellence makes a big difference in our efforts to keep the Cotswolds a beautiful place to live, work and visit.”