Survey of over 11,000 drivers reveals strong public support for holding litterers to account, while rejecting corporate penalties and calling on brands to step up voluntarily.
New research published by the AA this week has revealed that the British public overwhelmingly supports enforcing litter laws against individuals rather than penalising the brands whose packaging ends up on roadsides.
The survey of over 11,000 drivers found that two-thirds rejected the idea of fining companies for branded litter, while just one in five supported it. Over half agreed that vehicle keepers should be held accountable for litter thrown from their cars, and 55% said roadside litter is getting worse, up from 52% in 2024.
Responding to the research, Clean Up Britain founder John Read said: “We understand why some campaigners want to hit big brands with fines, but the public clearly isn’t on board. Instead, we need those companies to step up voluntarily, especially fast-food and coffee chains with drive-thru outlets. One practical idea is printing the vehicle registration on takeaway packaging at the point of sale. That would make it easier to trace litter back to its source without unfairly punishing brands. Combined with better packaging design and funding for bins, this could be a game-changer in tackling roadside litter.”
The AA Charitable Trust’s Director, Edmund King, said the findings point toward collaboration with businesses rather than punitive measures, calling for voluntary action on packaging, disposal messaging, and bin funding at hotspots.
The findings align with Clean Up Britain’s longstanding call for stronger individual enforcement alongside meaningful corporate engagement, an approach reflected across our policy manifesto and current parliamentary work.
Read the full AA report here.
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