Campaigners call for end to 'careful littering'

Helen Bingham, from Keep Britain Tidy, says litter can affect an area's economic growth

A campaign to highlight the impact of "careful littering" will be trialled in a West Yorkshire town.

According to Keep Britain Tidy, "careful littering" involves people leaving disposable cups, newspapers and other items placed on benches or walls, rather than throwing them on the ground.

The charity has chosen to focus on the issue in Heckmondwike as part of its efforts to tackle the problem.

Pam Lonsdale, a volunteer with Keep Hecky Tidy, said: "Getting rid of litter brings back a sense of pride, if there is litter everywhere it shows that people do not care but if we can make the town look better it attracts people here."

Ms Lonsdale, 60, has been volunteering with the group for the past four years and regularly takes part in litter picks in the town.

"I think it is great that we are the catalyst for something that is going to go nationwide," she said.

"It absolutely frustrates me when there is litter, it is just pure laziness.

"Some of the things we have found you really do not want to know about."

According to Keep Britain Tidy, one in four people in Heckmondwike admit to "careful littering".

The organisation's work in the town will help to shape its litter reduction efforts across the UK, a spokesperson said.

Living statues leaving drinks containers on benches are used to highlight the issue

The campaign will see new signs placed across the town and litter picking events held in partnership with schools and businesses.

A series of images showing living statues leaving coffee cups, sandwich wrappers and newspapers have also been commissioned by the organisation to highlight the issue.

"This is about the kind of littering that everybody will see but many do not even think of as littering, like a coffee cup placed on a step," said Helen Bingham, from Keep Britain Tidy.

"They are not mindlessly throwing but it is still littering, it makes a place look unloved and uncared for.

"It increases fear of crime and it impacts economic growth because people do not want to invest in somewhere that looks like no one cares."

She said the organisation would monitor attitudes to the campaign in the town in order to "develop a blueprint and shift the dial on littering".

Campaigners want to stop people leaving cans, newspapers, cups and other items on benches

Campaigners said education was key to tackling the issue.

Liz Gautry, founder of Keep Hecky Tidy, said volunteers often saw cans "popped on top" of walls.

"They get blown off, it is really important people understand it is all littering, whether you are throwing it or leaving it somewhere", she said.

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