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Call for renewed national litter campaign as council refocuses efforts on prevention 

27 October 2026

South Oxfordshire District Council is stepping up its fight against littering, backing a renewed focus on prevention, education and partnership working, while also calling for a national effort to create lasting change across the country. 

At the Council meeting on Thursday 22 October, members approved a motion aimed at increasing litter prevention through education, recognising that enforcement and clean-up efforts alone cannot solve the problem. 

The motion commits the council to reviewing its current anti-litter measures, including signage, awareness campaigns and enforcement activity, to identify where further improvements can be made.  

The council will explore new opportunities to work with partners including Oxfordshire County Council, town and parish councils, schools, businesses, environmental organisations and community groups to prevent littering before it happens. 

The council will also write to the government and local MPs to urge for renewed national action on litter prevention and public responsibility. Councillors want to see stronger nationwide campaigns that challenge attitudes towards littering and reinforce the message that keeping public spaces clean is everyone’s responsibility. 

Cllr Sue Cooper, Cabinet Member for Environment at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Our residents care deeply about South Oxfordshire’s towns, villages and countryside, and they rightly expect these places to be clean and well looked after.  We’ve already made significant investment in keeping our district clean through our street cleansing services, support for community litter-picking groups and campaigns such as Clean Spaces. Better Places. But the reality is that we cannot simply clean our way out of the litter problem.  

“By combining local action with stronger national campaigns, we have a much better chance of creating lasting change and keeping our communities cleaner for everyone.”  

Cllr Ed Sadler, ward member for Chinnor and proposer of the motion, said: “While most people dispose of their waste responsibly, a small minority continue to have a disproportionate impact on our local communities, public spaces and the countryside.  

“I’m therefore pleased that councillors have backed my call for a greater focus on changing people’s behaviour through prevention, education and campaigns.  However, this is a national problem, so we need government and MPs to support greater action, including a renewed national conversation about personal responsibility and respect for public spaces.” 

Notes for editors notes 

Cllr Sadler’s motion builds on the council’s existing work to keep South Oxfordshire clean and attractive. Earlier this year, the council’s Clean Spaces. Better Places campaign encouraged residents to play their part in tackling litter by taking pride in their local area. 

Alongside regular street cleansing, litter bin servicing and town centre cleaning programmes, the council also provides practical support to local litter-picking groups and individuals. Community volunteers can access equipment, advice and assistance with the collection of bagged litter, helping residents take positive action in their neighbourhoods throughout the year. 

Cllr Sadler’s full motion to council on 22 October 2026: 

Council Notes:  

  • Residents consistently express strong support for protecting the countryside, biodiversity and the character of South Oxfordshire. 
  • Significant public resources are expended collecting litter that should never have been discarded. 
  • Most people dispose of their waste responsibly. 
  • A relatively small number of individuals can create a disproportionately large environmental impact. 
  • Visible litter can encourage further littering and contribute to a sense of neglect. 

Council Believes 

  • The most effective long-term solution is preventing litter from being discarded in the first place. 
  • Public attitudes and social norms are as important as enforcement. 
  • The issue should be viewed not merely as waste management but as environmental stewardship and respect for shared public spaces. 
  • Educational campaigns can achieve lasting behavioural change at a lower cost than continually addressing the consequences. 

Council Resolves 

  1. To review whether existing signage, public awareness raising and enforcement measures effectively deter littering, and to explore opportunities to strengthen enforcement through better targeting, partnership working and the effective use of existing powers. 
  1. To explore partnership working with Oxfordshire County Council, Town and Parish Councils, neighbouring authorities, schools, environmental organisations, community groups and businesses. 
  1. To investigate whether historic anti-litter campaigns offer lessons that could be adapted for modern audiences. 
  1. To write to the Government and local MPs encouraging renewed national campaigns focused on litter prevention and public responsibility and review the effectiveness of enforcement powers, especially when it comes to practical challenges in rural enforcement.