‘Operation Tosser’ proves public is still prolifically littering

Members of the nationally known and admired Eco Rangers NI, along with Live Here Love Here and Council officers undertook a litter assessment of Larne area rural roads between January and March 2022.

The litter survey was to determine both the volume and type of litter thrown by the public from vehicles in rural locations, with the Shane’s Hill Road and A8 targeted, as main arterial travel routes, which have very minimal footfall.

Both Eco Ranger NI volunteers and Council officers ceased the clearing of litter of both roads from the start of January to determine the scale of the littering problem in the area.

Prior to January, the Eco Rangers undertook a massive cleanse of both routes, in order to start the New Year with a blank canvas. Live Here Love Here’s LEQ Officer Conor Bush surveyed both routes to verify litter-free roads.

For ten weeks, the Eco Rangers had to hold back temptation to litter pick and so litter has been accumulating along both roads. It ranges from drinks cans and bottles, to take-away packaging, to personal protective masks, gloves and tissues.

From Mid-March, Eco Rangers volunteers have been cleansing both roads, leaving their signature blue bags on the roadsides.

The long chains of blue bags lined up, one by one show motorists the ongoing litter issue and demonstrates the sheer volume of often hidden litter along our countryside roads.

During the week of the 21 and 28 March, the Eco Rangers have been working with Council staff at Redlands Household Recycling Centre to count the number of littered items lifted, segregating it out into bottles/cans and other waste items. In addition to this, the Eco Rangers have gone a step further and have segregated the bottles and cans out by the brand type, signifying the most commonly littered items.

At the end of the arduous count, it is sadly confirmed that 133 bags of litter have been lifted from both roads; 111 of these were lifted from the A8, with 22 lifted from Shane’s Hill Road. Plastic bottles and cans made up 48 of the 133 bags were with the remaining 85 bags being general mixed litter. To break this down this sad fact further, 2061 cans, 1896 plastic bottles, 90 glass bottles, 516 coffee cups, 510 miscellaneous items and 70 plastic food trays were lifted. The remaining mixed bag litter equating to approximately 43,650 littered items. Of particular note was the number of hygiene items: tissues (1,200) and wet wipes (800). The volume of this is staggering and it equates to 280.5 kgs of mixed waste and 132 kgs of plastic bottles and cans from ONLY two roadsides. All data has been verified by Council staff.

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Cleaner Neighbourhood Report 2020/21 [1] identified that rural roads and industrial shed and retail areas, are disproportionally affected by litter when compared to residential, recreational and primary retail areas. 48% of rural roads failed to reach the acceptable standard of cleanliness for litter.

This specific study concluded that up to 95% was sourced from vehicles. The results above show a startling volume of litter lifted after just a ten-week (non-litter-picking) period. It clearly demonstrates how there is still a deeply ingrained lack of respect in the public mindset for the natural environment, and how throwing litter from a vehicle has not register as a criminal act.

The Eco Rangers NI fully support the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Poots who recently launched a new anti-littering campaign highlighting littering as a serious issue, particularly in rural locations, where it can be ingested by farm animals, leading to death.

Helen Tomb, Live Here Love Here Manger said:

“Live Here Love Here welcomes this unique initiative undertaken by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and partner volunteer group Eco Rangers NI. The survey demonstrates the blight of rural road litter in the Larne area and volume of litter regularly collected by Council staff and volunteers. Litter is unsightly, has a devastating impact on wildlife and can be hazardous to humans.

“The survey shows the extent of the issue in the Larne area and the quantity of litter amassed after ten weeks will be shocking to local residents. Litter is everyone’s responsibility. Rubbish should be disposed of carefully and ideally taken home.”

Abe Agnew, Eco Rangers NI founder said:

“Whether you're a driver or a passenger please refrain from throwing litter from your vehicle. Think bin, or take it home, and end the pollution of litter emanating from your vehicles.”

A spokesperson for Council said:

“This initiative has really highlighted the issue of rural litter not just within our borough, but across Northern Ireland. We want our rate payers to benefit from value for money. Money spent cleansing these areas could be better spent on family based activities and community cohesion.

“We are continually grateful to the Eco Rangers for the support they provide, however we’d like to move away from the need for daily litter picks. We urge all our residents and visitors to the area to be mindful of the asset we have here in Mid and East Antrim.”

The time has come to stop littering completely. In the era of ‘new norms’ a mindset needs to exist where littering is simply socially unacceptable. With an on-the-spot fine of £80, the public need to understand they’re not only spoiling their local area with unsightly litter, they’re decreasing the inward investment to the area, decreasing tourism potential. They are making our local environment less desirable for our young children and families to play in, not to mention the harm caused to farmers and their livestock.

The 111 blue bag line up on the A8 ‘chain has been broken’ now the public need to stop littering and put the Eco Ranger Volunteers out of a job! ‘Break the Chain & Don’t Drop Litter so we can all Gain!