Road users implored to stop littering as deadly impact on wildlife is revealed

Watch here the devastating consequences for wildlife caused by roadside litter.

Interviews with National Highways and RSPCA spokespeople during a visit to the RSPCA wildlife centre in East Winch can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4TMxASm7VU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Gc9bB6UDA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6OXlPQkokg

Access RSPCA images of animals injured by wildlife here

More information here including how to report litter on the motorway and major A-road network.

National Highways surveyed 2,000 people in January 2024. Here is a summary of the findings:

• 93% said they had never discarded litter onto the roadside of an A-road or motorway but 63% said they had seen someone else discarding litter onto the roadside of an A-road or motorway
• When asked specifically about dropping organic waste like an apple core or leftover food, 17% said they had done this, highlighting that a proportion didn’t consider dropping organic waste when thinking about general littering behaviours.
• 31% agreed that dropping organic waste like an apple core or leftover food onto the road is beneficial to wildlife, 36% disagreed, 33% weren’t sure/didn’t know
• 22% agreed that dropping organic waste like an apple core or leftover food onto the road is good for the environment, 45% disagreed, 33% weren’t sure/didn’t know
• 55% think that fruit peel or core counts as litter if it were dropped on the roadside of an A-road or motorway (so 45% don’t think it’s litter). They were most likely to think that plastic water bottles (86%), plastic bags (85%), takeaway coffee cups (85%), takeaway food containers (85%) count as litter, but actually all the ideas presented to them (bar fruit peel or core) were selected by 8 in 10 or more of respondents.

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.

Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via its website (https://trafficengland.com), local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/about-us/social-media-use/.

For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option below:

Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) & out of hours for urgent enquiries

Option 2: North West (between 9am & 5.30pm)

Option 3: Yorkshire, Humber and North East (between 9am & 5.30pm)

Option 4: West Midlands (between 9am & 5.30pm)

Option 5: East Midlands (between 9am & 5.30pm)

Option 6: East (between 9am & 5.30pm)

Option 7: South East (between 9am & 5.30pm)

Option 8: South West (between 9am & 5.30pm)

Notes to Editors

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.

Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.

For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option:

Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) and out of hours for urgent enquiries
Option 2: North West (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 3: Yorkshire and North East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 4: West Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 5: East Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 6: East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 7: South East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 8: South West (9am to 5.30pm)