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'Let litter pile up' in streets 'Let litter pile up' in streets
(1 day later)
Letting litter pile up in streets now and again would "shock" people into putting their rubbish in bins, the Local Government Association has said.Letting litter pile up in streets now and again would "shock" people into putting their rubbish in bins, the Local Government Association has said.
The tactic was tried in Manchester and East Lothian and proved an "effective way" of highlighting the issue, said environment spokesman Paul Bettison.The tactic was tried in Manchester and East Lothian and proved an "effective way" of highlighting the issue, said environment spokesman Paul Bettison.
He claimed some 30 million tonnes of litter was dropped in England annually, costing councils £663 million.He claimed some 30 million tonnes of litter was dropped in England annually, costing councils £663 million.
And taxpayers would benefit greatly if communities were kept tidy, he added.And taxpayers would benefit greatly if communities were kept tidy, he added.
People discarded items "without even thinking about it", Mr Bettison told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.People discarded items "without even thinking about it", Mr Bettison told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"Far too many people do throw litter away. The British reserve is such that I know a lot of people will actually pick it up for you, rather than tackle you if you throw it away.""Far too many people do throw litter away. The British reserve is such that I know a lot of people will actually pick it up for you, rather than tackle you if you throw it away."
HAVE YOUR SAY Where I live no-one picks up the rubbish in the street Helen Pope, Eastwood Send us your comments He said that if the practice stopped, taxpayers' money would not have to be spent on the employment of so many street-cleaners.HAVE YOUR SAY Where I live no-one picks up the rubbish in the street Helen Pope, Eastwood Send us your comments He said that if the practice stopped, taxpayers' money would not have to be spent on the employment of so many street-cleaners.
And the scale of the problem meant that it was impossible to ignore, even for a single day.And the scale of the problem meant that it was impossible to ignore, even for a single day.
"We all know that if you don't pick up litter on Monday, you'll have to work twice as hard picking it all up on Tuesday," Mr Bettison added."We all know that if you don't pick up litter on Monday, you'll have to work twice as hard picking it all up on Tuesday," Mr Bettison added.