DRIVERS are being urged to take greater responsibility for their waste as Forest of Dean District Council highlights the growing issue of litter along roads and verges across the district.

The council says a number of areas are seeing repeated problems with rubbish building up, much of which is believed to be thrown from passing vehicles. Items such as food packaging, drink cans, cigarette ends and plastic bottles are among the most commonly found.

Councillor Andy Moore, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Recycling, said: “Litter is not only an eyesore. It poses a serious threat to wildlife, which can ingest it or become trapped and entangled in discarded items.

“Last year alone, the council collected around 200 tonnes of litter across our district. This required an estimated 12,480 hours of work from paid street operatives and dedicated community volunteers.

“200 tonnes of litter do not appear overnight. This will have been dropped one or two pieces at a time, often from vehicles into a landscape as beautiful and valued as the Forest of Dean.”

Drivers are being reminded that littering from a vehicle is an offence and can result in a £50 fixed penalty notice. In some cases, the registered keeper may be held responsible, even if the litter was thrown by a passenger.

Residents with dashcam footage of offences can submit it to the council, including the date, time and location, to support enforcement action.

The council continues to clear litter and fly tipping from public land, and residents can report issues such as overflowing bins via its website. Officials say preventing litter in the first place remains the most effective way to protect the Forest and reduce the strain on local services.

The council is also encouraging residents to take pride in their local area by disposing of waste responsibly.