In this article 4 sections
In practice, litter on business land is the business’s to deal with. Businesses have a legal duty under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to contain their own waste and stop it escaping, as the countryside charity CPRE explains. Litter left by other people on private land is a greyer area, but councils can intervene where it causes a nuisance or health hazard. A regular litter pick keeps car parks, verges and boundaries clear before it builds up.
Your own waste
CPRE explains that businesses must take measures to contain the waste they produce and prevent it escaping from their control. Overflowing bins, split bags and open skips are how a business’s own waste ends up blowing round its car park and beyond.
Other people’s litter
Government guidance notes that dropping litter on land open to the air can be an offence, including on private land, unless the landowner has consented. That’s the person who dropped it, though. The litter itself still sits on your land.
CPRE says there are few legal duties to keep private land clear of other people’s litter, but that councils may intervene where it becomes a health hazard or a nuisance.
Why it’s worth doing anyway
A car park edged with litter looks neglected to every visitor, whoever dropped it. Litter caught in hedges and along fences also finds its way into drains and onto neighbouring land.
A regular litter pick
As part of grounds maintenance, a scheduled litter pick covers:
- car park edges, kerbs and planted beds;
- hedges, fences and boundaries;
- bin areas and smoking shelters;
- verges and entrances. Keep Britain Tidy’s safety basics apply: gloves, litter pickers, hand washing, and never handling needles or syringes by hand.
For business parks in Liverpool and North Wales, the right frequency depends on the site and how much passing foot traffic it gets.
