The Resource Futures’ research commissioned by Defra assessed the scale of the problem of marine litter from abandoned vessels and policy options to reduce this. The report concluded that, whilst it is clear that recreational vessel abandonment is set to become an increasingly large problem, data gaps make it difficult to assess accurately the number of abandoned or end-of-life vessels across the OSPAR Maritime Area and in the UK. The report is available here: Marine litter from end of life recreational vessels - ME5247) (see attached).

Drawing on this research, the UK has led work with other countries in the North-East Atlantic as part of the OSPAR Convention to develop best practice guidance on the prevention, reporting, and management of end-of-life recreational vessels. The guidance was adopted by the OSPAR Commission in June and has been published on the OSPAR website here (see attached).

The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) is a grant scheme in England that supports more sustainable fishing and seafood businesses, including potential support for recycling end of life fishing gear. Through FaSS, Defra funded KIMO UK’s Fishing for Litter project, helping fishers bring litter ashore and expanding port storage and disposal facilities to support its safe collection and disposal.

It is an offence to illegally dispose of cannisters. Local councils have legal powers to take enforcement action against offenders. Anyone caught littering may be prosecuted in a magistrates’ court, which can lead to a criminal record and a fine of up to £2,500 on conviction. Instead of prosecuting, councils may decide to issue a fixed penalty (on-the-spot fine) of up to £500.

Guidance to councils and others on the use of their fixed penalty powers for littering and related offences is available at: Litter enforcement powers - when and how to use them - GOV.UK.

On 1 June 2025 the ban on the supply of single-use vapes came into force in the UK. From this date onwards, all vapes sold in the UK must be rechargeable and refillable. The ban is enforced by Local Authority Trading Standards, and the Office for Product Safety and Standards delivers communications and interventions to businesses and consumers.

Research from Material Focus estimates that 2.2 million single-use vapes were bought per week in 2025, a reduction of 69% from 7.3 million per week in 2024. The number of vapes and pods that were littered or thrown away each week has dropped from around 8.2 million in 2024 to 6.3 million in 2025.

Defra has not carried out a specific assessment of the prevalence of products designed to circumvent the definition of single-use vapes. Defra will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the ban and review enforcement and civil sanctions within 3 years.

Defra issued ‘Reducing litter caused by ‘food on the go’: A voluntary code of practice for local partnerships’, which is aimed at businesses. It provides a framework to help businesses and other relevant organisations to reduce the litter that comes from selling and consuming food on the go.

The Eco-Schools programme works with schools to change littering habits. Around 1.3 million young people currently attend an Eco-school. In 2024/25 over 113,000 pupils participated in litter picks collecting nearly 33,000 bags of rubbish.

National Highways is working in partnership with local councils to drive behaviour change with signage at litter hotspots and through media campaigns.

The UK Deposit Management Organisation, Exchange for Change, is responsible for ensuring strong public engagement with the Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers, which is due to launch in October 2027. The DRS is expected to reduce drinks container litter by 85%. Exchange for Change are developing a consumer communications strategy to promote awareness and use of the scheme.

The independent curriculum and assessment review recommended earlier sequencing and updated climate change, nature and sustainability content within the national curriculum subjects of geography, science, citizenship and design and technology.

The government accepted this recommendation in its response, and work is underway to refresh the curriculum in line with the review’s recommendations. There will be a consultation on the draft national curriculum programmes of study and subject content for the first group of GCSEs, opening in September.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of the misuse of nitrous oxide canisters on the environment and we are not considering a deposit return scheme for such canisters.

It’s an offence to illegally dispose of nitrous oxide cannisters. Local councils have legal powers to take enforcement action against offenders. Anyone caught littering nitrous oxide canisters may be prosecuted in a magistrates’ court, which can lead to a criminal record and a fine of up to £2,500 on conviction. Instead of prosecuting, councils may decide to issue a fixed penalty (on-the-spot fine) of up to £500.

Guidance to councils and others on the use of their fixed penalty powers for littering and related offences is available at: Litter enforcement powers - when and how to use them - GOV.UK

Local councils have legal powers to take enforcement action against offenders of littering including in rural areas.

Anyone caught littering may be prosecuted in a magistrates’ court, which can lead to a criminal record and a fine of up to £2,500 on conviction. Instead of prosecuting, councils may decide to issue a fixed penalty (on-the-spot fine) of up to £500.

Local councils also have powers to issue a civil penalty to the keeper of a vehicle from which litter has been thrown. This helps them respond to littering incidents when they cannot identify the specific individual who dropped litter from a vehicle.

To support local councils to make good use of their fixed penalty powers for littering we have published new Statutory Guidance, Litter enforcement powers: when and how to use them. Local councils will need to have regard to this guidance when using their powers. The guidance is available: Litter enforcement powers: when and how to use them - GOV.UK.

The Government has not assessed the consistency of enforcement action by local authorities (LAs) or whether LAs have sufficient resources for enforcement in relation to littering or graffiti offences.

LAs have legal powers to take enforcement action against offenders. Anyone caught littering or doing graffiti may be prosecuted in a magistrates’ court, which can lead to a criminal record and fines of up to £2,500 on conviction. Instead of prosecuting, LAs can issue a fixed penalty (on-the-spot fine) of up to £500.

To support LAs to consistently, proportionately and effectively use litter enforcement powers, including fixed penalty notices, the Government has recently published new Statutory Guidance, Litter enforcement powers: when and how to use them. LAs will need to have regard to this guidance when using their powers.

Advisory guidance on managing graffiti and flyposting for LAs and businesses is available here. The guidance outlines the options available for tackling these issues with examples of good practice.

The Government has not made an assessment of the effectiveness of existing statutory guidance on litter and graffiti enforcement in improving public perceptions of safety. The Government recognises that litter and graffiti can have a detrimental impact on local environmental quality and can affect how safe people feel in their communities.

Local councils are responsible for keeping their public land clear of litter, refuse and graffiti.

Advisory guidance on managing graffiti for local councils and businesses is available here.

The guidance outlines the options available to local councils and others for tackling these issues with examples of good practice.

The Government has not assessed the consistency of enforcement action by local authorities (LAs) or whether LAs have sufficient resources for enforcement in relation to littering or graffiti offences.

LAs have legal powers to take enforcement action against offenders. Anyone caught littering or doing graffiti may be prosecuted in a magistrates’ court, which can lead to a criminal record and fines of up to £2,500 on conviction. Instead of prosecuting, LAs can issue a fixed penalty (on-the-spot fine) of up to £500.

To support LAs to consistently, proportionately and effectively use litter enforcement powers, including fixed penalty notices, the Government has recently published new Statutory Guidance, Litter enforcement powers: when and how to use them. LAs will need to have regard to this guidance when using their powers.

Advisory guidance on managing graffiti and flyposting for LAs and businesses is available here. The guidance outlines the options available for tackling these issues with examples of good practice.

The Government has not assessed the consistency of enforcement action by local authorities (LAs) or whether LAs have sufficient resources for enforcement in relation to littering or graffiti offences.

LAs have legal powers to take enforcement action against offenders. Anyone caught littering or doing graffiti may be prosecuted in a magistrates’ court, which can lead to a criminal record and fines of up to £2,500 on conviction. Instead of prosecuting, LAs can issue a fixed penalty (on-the-spot fine) of up to £500.

To support LAs to consistently, proportionately and effectively use litter enforcement powers, including fixed penalty notices, the Government has recently published new Statutory Guidance, Litter enforcement powers: when and how to use them. LAs will need to have regard to this guidance when using their powers.

Advisory guidance on managing graffiti and flyposting for LAs and businesses is available here. The guidance outlines the options available for tackling these issues with examples of good practice.

Q12

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Janet Daby (Lewisham East) (Lab):

Littering and fly-tipping are a blight on our communities. This is not just an issue for Lewisham, but an issue for towns and cities across our country and, indeed, in rural areas. No one wants to see a dirty mattress, or cans or bottles, left beside roads or against gates. It is awful. I welcome the Government’s strategy and the plans to give councils more powers to manage fly-tipping, but I strongly believe that more needs to be done. Does the Prime Minister agree that it is time for a national conversation about how we manage and deal with littering?

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue, because the Government are cracking down on disgraceful waste criminals through, for instance, tougher penalties for fly-tippers—including service in clean-up squads, and the potential loss of their driving licences—more powers and funding for the Environment Agency, and stronger checks across the industry to tackle fly-tipping at its source.