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Litter and the law

Smiling woman placing plastic bottle into recycling bag near trees

This guide helps you identify the laws which apply to litter in various circumstances – and who should be responsible for the clearance of litter.

Two people bending to sort soiled plastic bottles on the grass

What is litter?

Overview of how litter is defined in law and what counts as the act of littering.

Two CPRE local group members picking litter at a CPRE event

Litter on land

Guide to who is responsible for litter on highways and roads, beaches and other relevant land.

Litter in water

Guide to who is responsible for litter in rivers, canals, ditches, lakes and the sea.

Volunteers on litter pick walking away from camera with sacks of litter

Redress for members of the public

Overview of how individuals can take action when relevant bodies do not fulfil their duties to clear litter.

A young woman looks to the camera as she holds a litter picker and rubbish bag

Read the full report

This report considers what falls within the scope of litter for legislative purposes, whose responsibility it is to clear litter, and what measures are available to address the problem of litter.