UK road littering now an 'epidemic' and getting worse
Wed, 03 Dec 2025
A survey of more than 11,000 drivers has shown that a growing number of people believe the UK’s road littering epidemic is getting worse.
The survey, by the AA, found that 55% of drivers notice more litter on roads and surrounding areas, up 3% compared to May 2024.
Concern is particularly high among older age groups and in specific regions. For example, in the West Midlands, 63% say they are seeing more litter, the highest in the UK.
Nationally, just 6% of respondents said they were seeing less litter – although in Scotland, the number who reported seeing more litter actually dipped below 50%, suggesting some parts of the country are working hard to tackle the scourge of littering.
The rise in roadside littering is in spite of new enforcement measures that went live in early 2022. These allow councils to issue civil penalties to the registered keeper of a vehicle from which litter is thrown – regardless of who was driving at the time.
The policy mirrors a similar approach to speeding and congestion charges.
The AA survey found that while some were concerned about fairness with such an approach, there was strong overall support, which "suggests that the public recognises the need for practical enforcement tools."
"There is no excuse for car litter louts and it’s time to resolve the litter problem once and for all," says AA Charitable Trust director Edmund King.
"The fact that most drivers support holding vehicle owners accountable shows there is public appetite for councils to enforce the rules more effectively. We need a national effort… to tackle what is fast becoming a roadside litter epidemic."
Clean Up Britain founder John Read added that the data "confirms what many of us see every day – litter is getting worse.
"We need to treat this as a national emergency. That means tougher enforcement, better education and a cultural shift in how we view littering."
The AA now wants to see more funding for local authorities to support litter enforcement, more public education campaigns and investment in roadside infrastructure including larger and more prominent bins at lay-bys and service stations.
