The RSPCA has received almost 13,000 reports about animals found severely injured, trapped, mutilated, choked or even dead from carelessly discarded litter over the past 4 years, with a total of 45 of them from the Isle of Wight. The shocking new data – released today by the charity – also reveals that it received an average of 13 reports per day last year during the peak months of May, June, July and August, when there is a particular litter hazard for animals. Now – the RSPCA is urging people to help “create a better world for every animal” by getting involved in Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean’ (from 15th-31th March). Individuals, groups or schools can pledge their support – and say how many bags of litter they intend to pick up – with more than 400,000 collected in total last year. Distressing incidents dealt with by the RSPCA include a hedgehog entangled in old barbed wire, a fox cub with litter caught round his neck, a goose with an old drinks can stuck to her lower beak and a Great Black Backed Gull whose leg became almost completely detached due to old fishing line cutting in. Amongst mammals, litter-related reports to the RSPCA were highest for foxes, hedgehogs and deer, while among wild birds, swans, pigeons and gulls bore the greatest brunt of discarded rubbish. The RSPCA even received reports of family pets such as cats and dogs being affected by litter. RSPCA anti-litter campaigns manager Carrie Stones said:
“Our rescuers deal with thousands of avoidable incidents every year where animals have been impacted by litter. “Old drinks cans and bottles, plastic items and even disposable vapes are just some of the items that pose a danger to our wildlife – including hedgehogs, deer and foxes. Animals can ingest the litter or become entangled, leading to injuries, mutilations and even death. “Sadly, for every animal we’re able to help there are probably many others that go unseen, unreported and may even lose their lives. “But the public can help us protect animals, and avoid these incidents happening in the first place. “Spring is an ideal time to go on a litter-pick because it falls before the breeding season when young animals such as fox cubs are at risk of getting into trouble, while litter in hedges will be more visible to pickers before the vegetation really starts growing. That’s why we’re calling on the public to get involved in the Great British Spring Clean to help remove litter that may endanger animals. “But it’s also really easy for the public to help at all times of the year. When people are out and about, we urge them to hold on to their litter until there is an opportunity to dispose of it safely and responsibly – or recycle where appropriate. As we all strive to create a better world for every animal, this could save an animal’s life.“
This year the RSPCA celebrates its 200th birthday. To mark this special anniversary the animal welfare charity wants to inspire one million people to join their movement to improve animals’ lives. To find out how you can join their million-strong movement for animals visit www.rspca.org.uk/200.
Every takeaway bag and carton and coffee cup should have the buyers surname and postcode printed on it.
When it then gets thrown from a car window on the way home at night it can be traced back to the buyer.
This would be a start and could then move on to every item you buy. TV. Sofa. Carpet. Shopping. Vapes etc so fly tipping can be dealt with quickly.
Whingers will say big brother is in control and tracking your movements and purchases but no. Dispose of your rubbish properly
So I go and buy a takeaway, give your name, your postcode and chuck it anywhere.
Bit of a flaw in your proposal really isn’t it?
Can you pretend to be a Jumbo Jet pilot and walk through airport security.?
No, you need to carry i.d as proof of who you are when you are buying things.
Why not just tattoo QR codes on everyone’s forehead.
Didn’t leave the EU to have our own government forcing a police state on us.
Needing ID to buy a sandwich is big brother in action.
Then move to a country where you are happy living amongst discarded waste and dying animals.
Or live here, in our clean litter free country.
See ya.
What is the point of a national litter pick when, within a month, the litter will all be back again. Until you can persuade everyone to dispose of rubbish properly, the problem will continue to exist. The problem is, there is so much scum in this country who couldn’t care less about littering, the issue will never be solved.
The Bin Men make the most mess, once they have collected the
Bins, they leave a trail of rubbish behind them, talking of rubbish,
why don’t IW Council send out Road sweepers like they did in the old days
to sweep the streets.
I think a lot of litter is caused by seagulls taking rubbish out of bins, unless its the newport end carpark for the newport-cowes cyclepath, then its chavs.
May I just say, when I was young, there use to be practically waste rubbish bins on every corner of the streets.
Surely, why can’t the council do more for the environment and deposit more litter bins about.
Also, adverts about rubbish use to be on the TV, keep your countryside tidy.
People need to stop thinking only of their selves and looked further than their own noses.
If everyone did their bit of responsibility, it would be a much better place to enjoy and most importantly a much more beautiful safer place for the wild life.
Check out the bins along the seafront in the summer
all are overfilled with items falling on the floor
IW Council needs to empty the bins more frequently in the holiday season
but they don’t, they are responsible for the majority of litter being on the floor.
We pay one of the most expensive Council taxes in the country and
receive a 3rd world service .
When you cut spending to the bone this is what you get.