Thoughtless 'tossers' are killing our wildlife
As a new report - to be published in our journal of litter and environmental quality - shows, littered drinks and bottles along our roadsides are killing millions of our native mammals every year, we are calling on everyone - 'don't be a tosser!'
Drinks bottles and cans that litter our roadside are also acting as graveyards for some of our rarest and most important small mammals - including shrews, bank voles and wood mice.
A study found more than 8% of littered bottles and nearly 5% of cans contained these poor animals' remains.
“We have all seen the impact of littered plastic bottles on our marine environment in recent months. Now, thanks to this research, we know it is killing millions of the small mammals that are a vital source of food for our native birds of prey.
“It is time for everyone to take responsibility for their rubbish. If you care about our country and its wildlife don’t be a ‘tosser’.”
-Chris Packham, Keep Britain Tidy ambassador, naturalist and TV personality
“Enough is enough. Keep your rubbish in your car and then put it in a bin when you can. Better yet, make sure you recycle it when you get home.”
-Allison Ogden-Newton, Keep Britain Tidy CEO