Litter Strategy Our approach Introduction If people didn’t drop litter, it wouldn’t have to The Department for Environment, Food and Rural be picked up. Litter on our network is not only Affairs (Defra) Code of Practice 2006 on litter and unsightly, it’s hazardous too. It can obstruct refuse (available at www.defra.gov.uk) defines litter: drivers and is a public health concern for our road workers during the clearing process, and that ‘to include materials often associated with time and money could be better spent on other smoking, eating and drinking, that are priorities. As well as economic impacts it also improperly discarded and left by members of has wider, adverse environmental concerns. the public; or spilt during business operations as well as waste management operations.’ We remain committed to delivering a high level of service for customers and communities We developed this strategy in consultation educating and informing those who drop litter with external partners such as government on our network of the consequences as we play departments, local authorities, suppliers and our part in reducing this cost to the public. other related associations to present a focused, holistic, approach to managing litter on the Our aspiration is that this strategy will help network. The strategy presents our vision, and it change the behaviours of those who drop is an approach we share openly and publicly. litter and we will continue to work with our stakeholders, suppliers and staff to achieve this. Purpose The purpose of this litter strategy is to outline how Background we can better manage litter on the network. Highways England’s role is to operate, maintain The Department for Transport has outlined five and modernise the strategic road network in high-level outcomes that the Government wants to the interests of customers. An increase in the secure for the network of roads that we operate and levels of roadside litter is a real concern and maintain. These are, for a strategic road network that: highlighted in communications received via our Customer Contact Centre, and through n supports and facilitates economic growth correspondence from stakeholders, including n is maintained to a safe and serviceable condition Members of Parliament and the wider public. n is operated efficiently and effectively n minimises its negative impacts on users, While we work to effectively manage litter in local communities and the environment accordance with our legislative responsibilities, it is n balances the needs of individuals and recognised that more needs to be done to improve businesses that use and rely on it. the environment and appearance of the network. Litter Strategy – Our approach Vision Responsibility for Clearing Our vision for this litter strategy is: Litter from all-purpose ‘A network predominantly free trunk roads (APTRs) from litter, without compromising safety and delivered affordably’. All-purpose trunk roads for wich responsability for clearing litter In England the part of the network has been transferred to SoS for which we are responsible for All-purpose trunk roads with retained litter clearing litter comprises motorways and their duties contracted to DBFO surrounds. Local authorities are concessionaires responsible for the management All-purpose trunk roads for wich of litter on all-purpose trunk responsibility for clearing litter lies roads, with the exceptions of with local authorities those listed in the appendix for Scotland which we have responsibility. A1 Newcastle Responsibilities for litter clearance upon Tyne are illustrated on the map below. A69 Sunderland Carlisle A19 M6 A1(M) A1053 Strategic goal A66 A66 A174 North Sea A19 To achieve our vision we have an overarching strategic goal: A64 M6 A1(M) Kingston ‘Reduce the need for litter Leeds upon Hull M65 M621 A1(M) M55 M606 picking and deliver an effective A56 M62 M6 M66 M62 M1 M181 litter clearing service’ M61 M58 Manchester M180 M60 M18 Liverpool M57 A1(M) M62 M67 M53 Road users are urged to play a part M56 A1053 Sheffield in helping us meet this goal and M1 Nottingham dispose of their litter responsibly. A50 Wales M6 A1 M1 Norwich M54 Peterborough A47 M6 Toll M42 M69 Birmingham M6 A1(M) A11 A414 M5 A14 M42 A14 A49 A1 A1023 M45 M5 A14 M25 A46 Northampton Cambridge M40 A5 A405 M11 A13 M1 A40 A282 M50 A1(M) M11 A120 A1089 London A417 A414 A1 A1023 A316 A2 M48 M40 A12 A3113 M5 A2 M2 A419 M25 A30 M4 A405 M11 A13 A23 A40 A282 A30 M49 A1089 M4 M4 London A316 A2 A3 M26 M32 A3113 A30 A2 M2 A249 A23 Bristol A34 A30 A3 M26 M3 M20 A3 M23 M5 A21 A303 M27 Southampton A23 M27 M3(M) M271 A27 A35 A27 A30 A30 Plymouth A38 English Channel © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey 100030649 – HE Media Service N12653 Litter Strategy – Our approach A network predominantly free from litter, without compromising safety and delivered affordably VISION STATEMENT Reduce the need for litter picking and collection and deliver an effective litter clearing service STRATEGIC GOAL Improve Seek and respond Influence littering operational Improve partnership to customer behaviour delivery and asset working feedback maintenance WORKSTREAMS Workstreams 2. Improve operational There are four ways to help reduce the need for litter delivery and asset picking, and deliver an effective litter clearing service. maintenance These are (outlined in the diagram above): 1. Influence littering behaviour Effective operation and maintenance must not 2. Improve operational delivery only focus on litter picking and collection, but also and asset maintenance holistic preventative maintenance to mitigate the 3. Seek and respond to customer feedback effects of litter on other aspects of our network 4. Improve partnership working such as blocked drains, which can lead to flooding. We collaborate with local authorities to ensure 1. Influence littering litter picking and collection can be co-ordinated with other routine highway maintenance works to behaviour minimise disruption to the travelling public. We also manage our contractors’ performance to ensure We will focus on achieving value for money in that litter picking and collection is carried out to clearing litter and influencing road users, as well the appropriate standard without compromise as the wider public, to take more responsibility to the safety of road users and road workers. for disposing of their own litter, and encourage socially desirable behaviour. We already use targeted messages through information campaigns and are exploring other ways to incentivise future behavioural change in those who drop litter. Litter Strategy – Our approach 3. Seek and respond to customer feedback A pivotal part of Highways England’s operations is listening and responding to our customers. Transport Focus has been appointed as an independent watchdog representing the interests of road users and ensuring that we take their views into account. We’re developing services and improvements in consideration of what our customers are telling us to achieve this, and better understand our customer’s expectations. We also conduct national and local customer satisfaction surveys which give feedback on our services. In addition Transport Focus conduct the National Road User Satisfaction Survey (NRUSS); this survey records satisfaction with road users’ last journey on our network. We continue to listen to customer opinions and views of how the network may be improved and from this feedback we are able to measure satisfaction with Highways England’s performance. From this research various initiatives or studies may be identified which contribute to our continuous improvement - essential to meet our customers’ expectations. 4. Improve partnership working To help tackle litter we are engaging with other organisations like Keep Britain Tidy, motorway service area operators and a number of local authorities; sharing knowledge and best practice, joint initiatives and information campaigns. We continue to extend the scope of our collaborative working arrangements; developing agreements with other key stakeholders, including local authorities and the freight and road haulage industry, to help reduce the need for litter picking on our network. Litter Strategy – Our approach Appendix A2. All-purpose trunk roads with retained litter clearing duties Responsibility for clearing litter contracted by Highways England from motorways and APTRs to Design Build Finance and There are several pieces of legislation Operate (DBFO) concessionaires: allocating responsibility for refuse collection on motorways and trunk roads: A1 From its junction with the A1(M) Junction 1 to the boundary between the Borough of n The Highways Act 1980 provides for Hertsmere and the London Borough of Barnet. Statutory Instruments to enable a stretch of road and slip road to be designated A2 From its junction with the M25 Motorway at as a ‘special road’ (i.e. a motorway). junction 2 to the boundary between the Borough of Dartford and the London Borough of Bexley. n The Environmental Protection Act 1990 A3 From its junction with the B2039 to the makes a distinction between special roads, boundary between the Borough of which are the responsibility of the Secretary of State; and trunk roads, which are the Elmbridge and the Royal Borough responsibility of the local authority. of Kingston upon Thames. There are some exceptions to a small A13 From its junction with the A1089 trunk number of roads where the road to the boundary between the Borough of Environmental Protection Act 1990 allows the Thurrock and the London Borough of Havering. Secretary of State to transfer responsibilities. A14 From a point 420 metres south east of its junction The following table lists those sections of trunk with Rusts Lane to its junction with the A1 trunk road. roads where Highways England retains the responsibility for sweeping and cleaning. A19 From its junction with the A168 road at Thirsk to the roundabout at the junction with A1.