Horrendous roadside litter - worse than ever before?
Discussion
I've been riding / driving for over 25 years now. I'm used to seeing a bit of roadside litter over the years. I'm also used to often seeing the litter - picking teams out collecting it, from minor roads to motorways. The amount of litter always used to be quite small, and not something that you'd really notice.
However - recently it seems to have suddenly got worse. And I don't mean 'a bit worse' - I mean properly unacceptable!
I live on the South Coast, and I started noticing it around my local roads and my local section of motorway, towards the end of last year. There is definitely way more than I can ever remember.
Then last week I had to drive up to Newbury, up the A34. Well Jesus Christ, the A34 is an absolute disgrace, from Hampshire right up to Newbury. The amount of roadside and central reservation litter is so bad, it basically kept my attention for the entire journey!
Firstly - does anyone know why this might be? More local council cutbacks? Then again, aren't roads looked after by local councils, county councils and the Highways Agency depending upon what they are? The problem seems to be uniform, everywhere.
Anyone else noticed or am I just going mental?
However - recently it seems to have suddenly got worse. And I don't mean 'a bit worse' - I mean properly unacceptable!
I live on the South Coast, and I started noticing it around my local roads and my local section of motorway, towards the end of last year. There is definitely way more than I can ever remember.
Then last week I had to drive up to Newbury, up the A34. Well Jesus Christ, the A34 is an absolute disgrace, from Hampshire right up to Newbury. The amount of roadside and central reservation litter is so bad, it basically kept my attention for the entire journey!
Firstly - does anyone know why this might be? More local council cutbacks? Then again, aren't roads looked after by local councils, county councils and the Highways Agency depending upon what they are? The problem seems to be uniform, everywhere.
Anyone else noticed or am I just going mental?
The "Driver Tizer" on Life in the Fast Lane was the worst thing. That and the tale about the guy strimming grass who hit a bag of human poo which splattered all over him. I've followed a van driver on the M6 eating his lunch and chucking sandwich packets, crisp bags, bottles and all sorts out of his window. I've seen a few uncovered loads spilling out of trucks as well. On the M61 going to university I saw a load of stuff come out of a skip lorry and land on the car behind.
There is more litter everywhere not just at the road side. People just don't give a s
t anymore, a significant section of society will not think twice about throwing a whole families worth of McDonald's wrappers out of a car window.
Any park or public space is just as bad, especially in the summer. People manage to carry huge quantities of food and booze to the local park for a picnic or BBQ, but then somehow lose their ability to carry anything when it comes to taking the rubbish home, or even putting it in the nearest bin.
edit:
I used to live very close to the centre of the city in a bit of a poor or 'disadvantaged' area. Every week a team of 2/3 guys from the council would come and pick up the take-away litter on the street, quite a long road too (few hundred houses).... within a day it would be back looking like a tip again.
Then there is fly tipping. People tossing old tellies in the local canal and so on. Really is disgusting in some parts of this country.
t anymore, a significant section of society will not think twice about throwing a whole families worth of McDonald's wrappers out of a car window. Any park or public space is just as bad, especially in the summer. People manage to carry huge quantities of food and booze to the local park for a picnic or BBQ, but then somehow lose their ability to carry anything when it comes to taking the rubbish home, or even putting it in the nearest bin.
edit:
I used to live very close to the centre of the city in a bit of a poor or 'disadvantaged' area. Every week a team of 2/3 guys from the council would come and pick up the take-away litter on the street, quite a long road too (few hundred houses).... within a day it would be back looking like a tip again.
Then there is fly tipping. People tossing old tellies in the local canal and so on. Really is disgusting in some parts of this country.
Edited by VolvoT5 on Friday 27th February 20:56
VolvoT5 said:
There is more litter everywhere not just at the road side. People just don't give a st anymore, a significant section of society will not think twice about throwing a whole families worth of McDonald's wrappers out of a car window.
Any park or public space is just as bad, especially in the summer. People manage to carry huge quantities of food and booze to the local park for a picnic or BBQ, but then somehow lose their ability to carry anything when it comes to taking the rubbish home, or even putting it in the nearest bin.
If you see them throw it out, just give it back to them t anymore, a significant section of society will not think twice about throwing a whole families worth of McDonald's wrappers out of a car window. Any park or public space is just as bad, especially in the summer. People manage to carry huge quantities of food and booze to the local park for a picnic or BBQ, but then somehow lose their ability to carry anything when it comes to taking the rubbish home, or even putting it in the nearest bin.
In the local Tesco car park this afternoon 3 late teens lads in a scened Polo threw their McD's & KFC bags against the driver side door of a blue Corolla parked 2 cars on from them and started having a good laugh 
The best part was watching the gent in his mid 70's, who owned the Corolla, get out of his car and return (more like hurl) the crap back through the passenger side front window of the Polo giving them a big shock and a covering of cola / milkshake at the same time
There is all sorts of crap along the verges, sometimes literally (cheers truckers). One of our lads kicked an old plastic bottle and ended up covered in the 'apple juice' The amount of beer cans and bottles is incredible.
Other interesting finds include a massive dildo, pregnancy test (used) and love eggs & blow up doll (these two behind a VOSA checkpoint)
The amount of beer cans and bottles is incredible.Other interesting finds include a massive dildo, pregnancy test (used) and love eggs & blow up doll (these two behind a VOSA checkpoint
)I really dislike that kind of behaviour, there's just no need.
Here's a thing; back in the icy spell a few weeks ago I saw a crashed car off in the trees, festooned in blue and white Police mine tape. Later that day the car had been dragged out but the tape is still there weeks later.
Now, is that littering? Are the police responsible for removing it? Maybe the recovery driver contracted by the police? What about the council or highways agency? Too many people who can all say "nuffin to do wiff me mate". grrrrrr.
Here's a thing; back in the icy spell a few weeks ago I saw a crashed car off in the trees, festooned in blue and white Police mine tape. Later that day the car had been dragged out but the tape is still there weeks later.
Now, is that littering? Are the police responsible for removing it? Maybe the recovery driver contracted by the police? What about the council or highways agency? Too many people who can all say "nuffin to do wiff me mate". grrrrrr.
Time to get those in prison picking up litter to earn their keep and for parents to tell their children to NOT drop stuff...take it home. Take aways don't help and sadly there is a shortage of bins too. Councils don't want to empty them but they end up paying more to employ litter pickers. Sadly the UK is an untidy overpopulated island.
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