a guide to improving your local environment - Keep Britain Tidy

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Responsibilities with regard to litter
The EPA 1990, s.89, states that certain bodies have a duty, so
far as is practicable, to keep their land clear of litter and
refuse (including fly-tipped waste). Section 89 (2) places a
further duty on the Secretary of State and on local
authorities to keep certain highways and roads clean, so far
as is practicable, of litter, refuse and detritus. The Code of
Practice on Litter and Refuse issued under s.89 states what
land is covered under the duty and how clean it needs to be.
The Code is concerned with keeping land clean, not how
often it is swept.
Local Authorities
• Have a legal duty to clear litter and refuse from
relevant land and highways for which they are
responsible, such as streets, parks, playgrounds,
some beaches (in season) and pedestrianised areas.
• Are required to report annually to the government on
the state of their streets with regard to litter and
detritus as part of the corporate reporting
system (BV199).
LITTER
Other Bodies With a Duty to Clean Their Land
Other bodies with a duty to ensure that land and highways
under their direct control are clean, so far as is practicable,
of litter, refuse and detritus, are:
• Appropriate Crown Authorities;
• Designated Statutory Undertakers (including transport
operators such as ports, docks, railways, airports,
transport hubs);
• Governing bodies of Designated Educational
Institutions (legally responsible for clearing the litter
and refuse from their own grounds but with no
responsibility for clearing outside their grounds. This
falls under the jurisdiction of whoever owns the land.
However, schools are encouraged to work with other
agencies if specific problems occur, e.g. litter trails
between schools and local shops);
• Local authorities, for any relevant highway for
which they are responsible;
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