New figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government reveal that the cost of clearing up litter has risen by 10 per cent: from £780 million in 2008 to £858 million in 2009.

This additional cost has been attributed to Britain’s ‘throwaway culture’. A survey by Defra found an increase in dog mess, tag graffiti, and cigarette butts, which has lead to a decrease in overall cleanliness.

To combat the UK’s litter problem, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CRPE) has spearheaded the anti-litter and fly tipping campaign Stop the Drop. It is also planning a long-term education scheme, a bottle deposit system and a change in the law on roadside litter. The CPRE currently has 286 litter picking groups across the country.

Samantha Harding, manager of the Stop the Drop campaign, says: "We're told we're living in the age of austerity but the cost of litter has exploded by almost £100 million and shows no signs of slowing down. We need a concerted and sustained public information campaign to educate people about the true costs of littering. We must make littering as unacceptable as vandalism."