Supermarkets: Litter

(asked on 13th April 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of supermarkets on supporting community organisations to reduce littering in their local communities.


Answered by
Rebecca Pow Portrait
Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This question was answered on 21st April 2021

Although the Secretary of State is in regular communication with supermarket retailers, Defra has had no specific conversations with representatives of supermarkets on supporting community organisations to reduce littering.

The Government continues to use its influence to support national clear-up days, which help to empower and engage communities in tackling litter and to change attitudes towards littering. We have also recently updated the Countryside Code, reminding people to respect the outdoors and take their litter home with them.

I recently spoke at the launch of the 2021 Great British Spring Clean, urging as many people and businesses as possible to participate, and have committed to volunteer during the event. By taking part, we can all set the tone for the summer ahead, by showing that litter is not acceptable, and that people care deeply about protecting their local environment.

Many retailers choose to support these events, and local stores often encourage staff and customers to take part. We understand that in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic some retailers are, quite reasonably, focusing much of their charitable efforts on the food redistribution and supply sector at present.

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